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.
