When an emergency arises, someone must provide expert care from the accident site to the emergency room.  Emergency Medical Technicians, also called paramedics, are the go-betweens who provide immediate emergency care, relay information to the hospital, and keep careful watch of a person’s health status until the ambulance arrives at the hospital.

Emergency Medical Technicians are highly trained in helping provide care during pregnancy labor, after heart attacks, following car accidents, subsequent to shootings, and following other accidents, crimes, and conditions that occur when a person least expects it.  Emergency Medical Technicians quickly diagnosis the necessary treatment, provide critical medications, get blood pressure and pulse readings, run necessary scans, and keep in close contact with the hospital.

After a person dials 911, the 911 operator determines the problem and dispatches the correct personnel.  Often firefighters, police, and Emergency Medical Technicians work side by side in case of an accident, fire, or shooting.  Typically, Emergency Medical Technicians will arrive at the same time or shortly after the police or firefighters.  The extra personnel help keep the scene under control so that the Emergency Medical Technician can work safely and efficiently.   For a call to a home, Emergency Medical Technicians arrive on the scene, typically in pairs considering there are an ambulance driver and an Emergency Medical Technician, and then access the situation.

There are numerous levels of Emergency Medical Technicians.  First Responders are the lowest level.  Also known as EMT-Basics or EMT-1s, First Responders are usually the first Emergency Medical Technicians on the scene.  Their training allows them to provide only the most basic of care.  An EMT-1 routinely handles blood pressure readings, pulse readings, and basic assessments.

The next level of Emergency Medial Technician is the EMT-2 or EMT-3, or the EMT-Intermediate.  EMT-Intermediates possess advanced training that allows them to administer fluids through an IV.  EMT-Intermediates also carry advanced training in the use of defibrillators in case a heart stops beating.  Patients with breathing issues receive the advanced skills of an EMT-Intermediate who possess knowledge of putting in air tubes down a person’s throat to help with lung troubles.

Finally, EMT-4s, also EMT-Paramedics, possess complex training in all aspects of emergency care.  EMT-Paramedics can administer medicines both orally and intravenously, read EKG printouts, and do emergency intubation through the skin if a patient is having breathing and there is blockage preventing a tube from going down the throat.

Emergency Medical Technicians require advanced training to reach each job level.  Typically, area hospitals and colleges team up to provide training to people interested in becoming an Emergency Medical Technician.  State employment agencies will have the necessary information and contacts.

States require that Emergency Medical Technicians are at least eighteen years of age and possess a high school diploma.  A certain level of fitness is also necessary as lifting patients is part of the job.

Many states ask that an ambulance service or hospital has sponsored the aspiring Emergency Medical Technician.  This is to ensure that the Emergency Medical Technician is serious about the job and has on-the-job training lined up.  To complete the first level, the aspiring First Responder takes a written test, much like the test taken by a teenager to get a driver learner’s permit.   The written test is completed first, and then the physical training begins.  Coursework often includes at least 110 hours of on-the-job training and five correct patient assessments.  Once this training is completed, a final exam is issued.   Scoring at least an 80% allows the state to issue certification.  Someone holding a First Responder certificate must be retested every two years.

An EMT-1 is tested on skills in trauma assessment, oxygen therapy, cardiac assessment, spine immobilization, CPR in adults, taking vital signs, immobilization of broken bones, bleeding control, shock management, and airway suction.  These components are included on the final testing.

The next level requires the Emergency Medical Technician possesses First Responder certification.  After the required proof is provided, the Emergency Medical Technician must complete over twenty hours of clinical study and over 60 hours of on-the-job training.  Additional coursework in childbirth, trauma response, and patient management are also provided.  Once the coursework and training are complete, a test is given to ensure the EMT-Intermediate is thoroughly aware of all aspects of his or her job. 

With the EMT-Intermediate, skills are tested on air passage clearing, CPR for infants, children and adults, preparing and administering medications, emergency childbirth, splinting bones, collecting blood samples, administering IVs, treating shock, and more.  The test includes three components in which the EMT-Intermediate demonstrates his or her capabilities in assessing a patient, managing the patient’s needs, providing intermediate airway clearing, preparing an IV, and administering medications. 

The final level, the EMT-Paramedic, include the courses administered for the EMT-Intermediate, but it also adds a number of other courses.  An EMT-Paramedic must also be trained in administering endotracheal tubes, chest decompressions, emergency airway puncturing, defibrillation, reading EKGs, and hooking up central IV lines.

An EMT-Paramedic requires months of training.  Due to the extensive training, all EMT-Paramedic hold paid positions.  Lower scale EMTs are often volunteer positions.

Wages vary from state to state.  Obviously, volunteer EMT positions do not offer a salary.   States with low numbers of volunteers occasionally offer low salaries to EMT-Intermediates as a means to draw Emergency Medical Technicians to their area.

The following portion lists the median salaries of Emergency Medical Technicians on the lower levels of EMT-Intermediate.  Then the yearly salary of an EMT-Paramedic is discussed.  There are also EMT-Paramedics who work with the ambulatory helicopters that provide helicopter transport to area hospitals.  As EMT-Basic positions are always volunteer jobs, there is obviously no salary available for that level.

When pondering salaries, a person should consider the areas cost of living expenses.  It is important to make wages that will support rent, mortgage payments, and other monthly bills.  Another consideration to making a decent wage is if the Emergency Medical Technician works for a private firm or a hospital.  Hospitals often provide higher starting wages and better benefits.

In Alabama, an EMT-Intermediate earns $23,200 while an EMT-Paramedic earns $30,600.  An EMT-Paramedic who works with helicopter flight transports can expect to earn slightly higher with $34,300 per year.

Moving up to Alaska where hospitals are often a good distance away from the local hospitals, an EMT-Intermediate makes $29,200.  An EMT-Paramedic can earn upwards of $38,000 per year.  Finally, an EMT-Paramedic specializing in life saving air flights earns approximately $43,000.

In sunny Arizona, an EMT-Intermediate earns approximately $24,900 per year.  An EMT-Paramedic makes slightly more at $32,800 or $36,700 if the EMT-Paramedic works for air flights.

In Arkansas, EMT-Paramedics make considerably less money, though the cost of living is also much lower than other areas.  EMT-Paramedics specializing in air flights earn $33,200 remaining EMT-Paramedics earn $27,900.  EMT-Intermediates make $22,500.

Los Angeles, California finds median wages for an EMT-Intermediate begin at $28,100.  EMT-Paramedics earn more at $37,100.  Those EMT-Paramedics working on emergency air flights make considerably higher wages at $41,500.

In Connecticut, an EMT-Intermediate earns approximately $28,100.  An EMT-Paramedic can earn upwards of $37,100, where as an EMT-Paramedic specializing in air flights earns $41,500.

Both Delaware and Florida’s EMT-Paramedics specializing in air flights earn around $38,000 per year.  Remaining EMT-Paramedics earn between $33,000 and $34,000 per year.  Finally, the EMT-Intermediate workers can expect to make close to $26,000. 

In New England, the wages are similar.  In Maine and Vermont, an EMT-Intermediate earns slightly over $24,000 a year while Massachusetts earns $25,000.  Maine finds EMT-Paramedics earning close to $31,100.  Massachusetts and Vermont earn slightly more than $32,200.  Finally, an EMT-Paramedic specializing in life flights are the highest of the bunch.  Maine starts these workers at $35,000.  Vermont offers them $36,000.  Massachusetts tops them all with yearly salaries of $37,800.

It is slightly sad that Emergency Medical Technicians do not earn more than they do.  As these are the men and woman keeping the wounded and ill alive until they reach doctors, one would think they deserve far more than they get.  Regardless, most EMT workers admit they do it for the job satisfaction, not the money.