By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• The St. Joseph City Council in Missouri approved a three-year contract granting phased pay raises for firefighters and EMTs.
• The contract with International Association of Firefighters Local 77 includes a 4 % raise in 2026 and 3 % increases in 2027 and 2028.
• Longevity pay increases were also approved based on years of continuous service.
• EMT compensation was restructured to an hourly rate in the updated agreement.
• The measures were passed by council vote Tuesday evening.
(ST. JOSEPH, MO —) The St. Joseph City Council Tuesday evening approved a new three-year contract that provides phased pay raises for city firefighters and emergency medical technicians, officials said.
St. Joseph Fire Department/Facebook
Under the agreement with International Association of Firefighters Local 77, firefighter base pay will increase by 4 % in 2026, followed by scheduled 3 % raises in both 2027 and 2028.
The contract also includes longevity pay increases that raise salaries above base pay for members with five or more years of continuous service, with additional percentage boosts at set service milestones.
Compensation for certified EMTs was restructured under the agreement, moving from a lump-sum payment to an hourly rate that is applied before longevity pay is calculated, officials said.
Councilmembers approved the contract as part of their Tuesday session, marking a multi-year investment in public safety personnel compensation.