Emergency Medical Technician Salary
Emergency Medical Technician Salary
The Emergency Medical Technician Salary is determined by grade and qualifications, and in some cases length of service and experience. Different employers may offer different rates of pay and conditions to their employees. EMT’s and paramedics are highly trained, dedicated professionals and it should be expected that their salaries, working conditions and any benefits reflect this.
As each state has its own educational and training requirements for their EMT’s, salaries do tend to differ from state to state, with some states offering better salaries and working conditions than others. The same is true of private companies and agencies.
EMT’s and paramedics can find work in a variety of different sectors, not just hospital and ambulance services. The fire department employs EMT’s and paramedics, often the fire department will have their own training schools for EMT’s and paramedics. Many private sector companies employ EMT’s particularly those who employ a large work force such as car manufactures. Where ever there are large gatherings of people, such as sports events or concerts EMT’s will be in attendance, either employed directly by the stadium owners or hired from an agency.
Working Hours
EMT’s and Paramedics are paid on an hourly rate with females usually being paid less than their male counterparts. Being paid on an hourly rate, means that EMT’s can work extra shifts or hours, increasing their take home salary accordingly.
Most EMT’s who work for ambulance services are expected to work 12 hour shifts, others may have to work what is called ‘revolving shifts’ which means they are on call for 24 hours followed by 48 hours of undisturbed off time. EMT’s working for hospitals usually work 12 hour shifts, which is typical of the hours worked by the nursing staff, although some hospitals implement the 24 on 48 off rotation. EMT’s who are employed by fire departments will be expected to work similar shift patterns.
It is not usual for EMT’s to work 50 or 60 hour weeks as there are normally plenty of extra shifts available, plus for obvious, reasons additional hours may have to be worked when dealing with an emergency as emergencies don’t always end when a EMT’s shift hours end.
Those working in different sectors for example sports stadiums will likely work shifts or hours that coincide with the sports events.
Average Annual Salaries
EMT – Basic $22,000 to $34,000
EMT – Intermediate $30,000 to $42,000
Paramedics can expect to earn at least double this, according to their qualifications and years of experience and service.
Emergency Medical Technician Salary will vary according to overtime and other benefits which may be available. Many employers also take into account years of experience/service when calculating salaries.
Those working in more rural areas or for some private medical service companies can earn 10%+ less than the national average. EMT’s working in large cities; tend to be paid at a higher rate due to the volume of work.
The United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Statistics will give you more detailed up to date information.
Bonuses and Benefits
Many employers offer a range of bonuses and benefits to their EMT’s, often these will be based on qualifications and experience or length of service.
They can include:
Paid sick leave, paid holidays, paid leave for EMT courses, payment of tuition fees, a signing on bonus, company paid health and dental insurance, paid vacation time, state retirement program, relocation benefit. The company or employer may also have health or gym facilities on site which employees can take advantage of.
Who Pays the Most?
According to the US Department of Labor the 5 top paying states are; – Alaska, Hawaii, District of Columbia, Oregon and Washington.
Among the top metropolitan areas are: El Centro, CA, Anchorage, AK, Portsmouth, NH-ME and Coeur d’Alene, ID
The top non-metropolitan areas include: Eastern Washington, Northwestern Washington, Linn County, Oregon and Southeast Alaska.
There are different charts available for calculating EMT salaries; each of the charts will use their own data and formula when trying to reach their conclusions, which can be rather confusing.
The EMT Salaries by State Chart lists New York as offering higher EMT salaries than any other state. While the Salary of Paramedic by City Chart calculates that those working in Los Angeles and Chicago earn the highest salaries.
Possibly the most useful chart to consult, particularly if you are looking at relocating to another state is the Cost of Living and Paramedic Salary Chart, this will give you some idea as to how far your salary will stretch when things such as housing, food, transport, utility bills, taxes, etc., are taken into account.
If you are considering relocating then you should also look at which specialties, grades or qualifications are required for that area, as this can affect your rate of pay. Additional training may be needed to meet the needs of the employer and also to increase your employability and as a result your salary.
Some employers will pay for the additional training courses and allow paid time for study as they want their employees to be highly trained and efficient, this works to the advantage of both the employer and the employee. Generally this extra training paid for by the employer will result in an increase in salary for the employee.
The Emergency Technician Salary can vary considerably across the US, and even from employer to employer within the same city or state. It is clear that the more qualified the EMT the better the salary, the same being true for the paramedic.