Is the pay worth the hassles of the job when you're a paramedic? How does the paramedic salary compare around the country? If there is one important role that an emergency medical technician plays, it is that they save lives.
They respond to calls for medical emergencies, accidents or during calamities. It is their job to provide victims with pre-hospital care and treatment until they are brought to be seen by medical professionals so there is a lot of pressure on the job.
Paramedics are the highest level of emergency medical technicians. Aside from basic EMT training -- which you should have completed and been certified for - you need at least a year of work experience and another 18 to 24 months of education to become a paramedic.
In advancing to this position through the completion of paramedic courses, you will be required to have a higher level of competence in emergency management, as well as more complex responsibilities to ensure that each rescue or medical mission is completed successfully.
The work vs the pay
Undoubtedly, the work is stressful. Having people depend on your skills to save their lives makes the job an extreme challenge. The hours are long (12 to 24-hour shifts is normal) or you can be on-call, followed by two days of rest, and overtime is not uncommon so paramedics can work 50-60 hours a week.
The work environment varies, but this also raises the level of difficulty in each case. You need to be calm and steady, able to think on your feet to assess various situations and make quick decisions, be a team player and be an effective communicator to put victims at ease at the most difficult time.
For all this, you can expect to earn between $28,000 and $40,000 depending on your location your employer, if you are just starting out in your position. Experience definitely carries a big weight in terms of the paramedic salary you can expect.
Several years more on the job, and if you work in a state agency or hospital, you can expect to make from $50,000 to $70,000. And with overtime pay, this will add up substantially. The median salary nationwide for a paramedic is $36,950, but this varies from one place to another.
The average hourly rate for paramedics is $15.88, with the lowest noted at less than $10 while the highest is at $34. This is also dictated by supply and demand.
Paramedics in California
Although California isn't in the top 5 highest paying states for the paramedic profession, it is in the higher range largely due to population density and cost of living. A paramedic firefighter and a flight paramedic in this state make about $48,000 annually, although they are employed in the public and private sectors. In Los Angeles, the paramedic salary is around $66,000 for someone with enough experience.
Earning big in New York
On the other hand, if you were a paramedic in New York serving with the fire department, you can expect a starting salary of $43,690 and after five years be making $59,079. An NYC flight paramedic earns $56,000.
The advantage of working with government agencies are the automatic pay raises every year, although the private sector also gives competitive remuneration for these professionals.
Florida salary is at par
In Florida, the average paramedic salary is $47,000. Generally, paramedics and firefighters certified as paramedics make between $41,000 and $47,000.
The most popular industries employing paramedics in Florida are ambulance services, emergency medical services and hospitals where they receive an hourly rate of $13.67 to $19.93.
In spite the benefits and relatively high pay, there are still some professionals who feel they are not paid enough for the service they render considering the conditions in which they work in.
Rewards in every profession are not solely confined to wages, because a lot of it is in the form of fulfillment each time you are able to save a life. So even with the accompanying challenges, the paramedic salary is still worth it.
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