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They are NOT EMT"s as we don't even use that term in Canada. Paramedics in Ontario are trained to preform more medical procedures than any other health care professionals, except Medical Doctors.
Agree that EMT and Paramedic are not interchangeable terms, including here in the U.S. EMT's have a lower level of education, credentialing and scope of practice than paramedics do, and are generally paid much less. In my experience in Healthcare HR management, we paid our EMT's about $12-$14 per hour, and paramedics about $16-$18, but this was about 10 years ago.
I would characterize EMT's as mid level ancillary providers, along the same lines as entry level Surgical Technologists, Medical Lab Techs, PT/OT Assistants etc. Paramedics are a higher level, but still not on par with an RN, for example.
Last edited by Texas Ag 93; 01-01-2016 at 09:01 AM..
When my late wife was suffering from dementia, I was unable to transport her to medical appts. and had to use an ambulance service. It was expensive as hell. If the personnel aren't getting paid, I'd like to know who is.
An ambulance has to have a minimum crew of two, so that doubles personnel costs right there. Vehicle and liability insurance for the company costs out the ass. Depending on what is inside of it, a squad will cost 60K-100K to purchase, which does not include annual fuel costs and maintenance. Equipment also has to be maintained at owner expense. The owner also has to pay dispatchers, office people, rent, electric, phone, advertising, etc. The owner also deserves to make some money for himself. That is where the money goes. In addition, a basic EMT cert is a relatively low grade skill and more than enough people hold the certification. It costs a lot of money to build a house. That doesn't mean the guy swinging a hammer is getting $50 an hour.
As far as I can tell, it's not that difficult to get EMT certified. Sure it's a skill and requires education but that's no guarantee of high pay. Back when I was a sophomore in college studying my butt off one I had 3 next door neighbors. They drank nearly every night, some smoked weed, rarely studied. Their friends were the same way. I don't know what happened to most of them but I know 2 of them eventually went down some technician path one of which was EMT. If they can eventually get certified/trained in something, most people can.
Around here EMT's working on an Ambulance make about $19 an hour. They work 24 hour shifts. After 8 hours they make time and a half. After 12 hours they make double time. That comes out to $722 for a 24 hour shift. If they work two twelve hour shifts a week they are up to $75,088 a year. If they work three a week they are up to $112,632 a year. Realize that they could be working the entire 24 hour period or they could be watching the grass grow. The pay is the same.
Our son wanted to be an EMT. He thought it would be cool to work on an Ambulance. His aunt talked him out of that and now he is going right into Nursing. More money involved with Nursing. Currently first year RN's without a BSN make $22 an hour. Within a year they are up to $33 an hour. They can also choose to join our float team and after a 6 month training period they are at $45 an hour. They can do that until they accept an opening on one of the nursing floors, at our other hospital or our skilled Nursing Facility.
It is a shame they don't make more money for sure. One thing they do seem to do is eat a lot. Sure are a ton of overweight folks driving around in ambulances.
EMTs don't really have much in the way of skills. Here it's a 10-week part-time program and you're an EMT. Similar to CNAs, phlebotomists, or pharmacy techs. Quick and dirty certificates you can get for very little money. But like Soon said, a lot of EMTs are getting paid for sitting around. Depending where you are you might not be getting that 24-hour pay. A lot of jurisdictions you'll do a 24-hour shift but get paid for 14 of it. The other 10 you're on-call at the station and don't get paid unless you actually get called out. They make more than CNAs or pharm techs because of that.
We pay higher taxes for medical care obviously, but I don't mind. Seems completely outrageous to cut funds on life-saving personnel, but there you go with a political debate. McDonalds here pays $11-13/hour.
It sounds great... but is it? Yous COL is sky high.....
My boyfriend's grandfather, who is in his late 90's, needed to be taken to the Vet's hospital by an ambulance.
My boyfriend rode with them in the ambulance while I followed from behind.
Anyway, afterward we talked about what they talked about. They told my boyfriend that they make $12/hour.
These are the people whose hands we put our lives in. Why the hell are they getting paid so little? That's about $24k/year, which is about $17k/year take home.
Really bad priorities?
I think the same about Certified Nurses Aids, phlebotomist assistants and many med techs.
My boyfriend's grandfather, who is in his late 90's, needed to be taken to the Vet's hospital by an ambulance.
My boyfriend rode with them in the ambulance while I followed from behind.
Anyway, afterward we talked about what they talked about. They told my boyfriend that they make $12/hour.
These are the people whose hands we put our lives in. Why the hell are they getting paid so little? That's about $24k/year, which is about $17k/year take home.
What is the barrier to entry?
Not much?
So the wages are low.
For any job, if you want to make big money you need to get into a field where the barrier to entry is big.
It is a shame they don't make more money for sure. One thing they do seem to do is eat a lot. Sure are a ton of overweight folks driving around in ambulances.
Yeah but they gotta LIFT a lot of overweight people too. Also a lot of down time = more eating.
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