Becoming an
EMT or Paramedic is a strong career choice
. EMS is a growing field and jobs are plentiful across the country. Furthermore, you help people every single day and there are plenty of opportunities to grow within the field. For example, some EMTs may choose to advance their skillsets to become a Paramedic.
Is there a high demand for EMTs?
Employment of EMTs and paramedics is
projected to grow 11 percent from 2020 to 2030
, faster than the average for all occupations. About 20,700 openings for EMTs and paramedics are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Do EMT get paid well?
Additionally, firefighter/paramedics in San Francisco (Bay Area of California, very high cost of living) make an average of $86,000 and some get paid as much as $208,000! In the hospital setting, some ER techs make up to $56 per
hour
, which depending on hours worked, is likely well over $100,000 per year!
Why you shouldn’t be an EMT?
If EMS personnel do get into an accident with lights and sirens running, they
are almost always at fault
. EMTs also learn that the few seconds saved by driving fast are rarely, if ever, meaningful to the patient’s outcome, but the consequences of a single bad decision while driving emergent can ruin a whole career.
Can you make a living off EMT?
Since an
EMT can earn from $33,000 to $51,000 a year
and a paramedic can earn anywhere from $40,000 to $70,000 a year, increasing your training and designation is one way to earn more money.
Why is EMT pay so low?
There are other reasons EMS pay is so low.
Certification is minimal — it only takes 120 to 150 hours of training to become an EMT
(paramedics require significantly more). Ambulances in rural communities are often staffed by volunteers, which depresses wages for those who do pursue the role as a career.
Why are EMTs so underpaid?
Because paramedics require more extensive training, they earn more money than EMTs. … EMTs are routinely overworked and underpaid, but because the
job clocks decent medical experience, requires minimal training
, and is a typical precursor to medical school and other professions, many still show up for the job.
Are EMTs happy?
Paramedics are about average in terms of happiness
. At CareerExplorer, we conduct an ongoing survey with millions of people and ask them how satisfied they are with their careers. As it turns out, paramedics rate their career happiness 3.3 out of 5 stars which puts them in the top 45% of careers.
Is being an EMT scary?
Choosing a career such as being an Emergency Medical Technician can
be extremely stressful
; in fact it may also be one of the most stressful jobs ever. But, every job has stresses of its own kind and therefore if you give your mind and heart to it, you can become a successful EMT and eventually advance your career.
Why do paramedics quit?
The most important reasons for leaving the profession were
choosing to pursue further education and moving to a new location
. A desire for better pay and benefits was a significantly more important reason for EMT-Paramedics’ exit decisions than for EMT-Basics.
Is EMT a stressful job?
EMT training is essential life-saving instruction. What EMS personnel often share with other first responding professions is that their chosen profession also comes with a high dose of stress. The 2011 Career Cast Report lists EMTs
as the 9th most stressful career
.
How can an EMT make more money?
- Become an EMT-Intermediate. Certain states offer an EMT-Intermediate, EMT-B, or AEMT license, a step between EMTs and paramedics. …
- Advance in your career. …
- Look for a new employer. …
- Work more overtime. …
- Find a second job.
Can a paramedic make 6 figures?
Below is a list of the top-10 highest-paying states for paramedics: … New York average paramedic salary: $44,920. Massachusetts average paramedic salary: $44,140. California
average paramedic salary: $43,680
.
Why do firefighters get paid so low?
Firefighters in California tend to make up for their
relatively low hourly wages by working overtime
in addition to their already long work-week. It is almost always cheaper for employers to hire back off-duty firefighters on overtime than hiring additional personnel.
Is EMT class hard?
All in all, you should expect to spend about 350-400 hours completing an EMT class. … After you have passed an EMT class, you must now pass the national licensing exam and fulfill state and county requirements. This part
is usually not as difficult
, especially if your EMT class has adequately prepared you.
What state pays EMTs the most?
The states and districts that pay Paramedics the highest mean salary are
Hawaii
($56,610), Washington ($56,140), Maryland ($50,750), Alaska ($50,640), and District of Columbia ($47,830).
