EMT Salary – Your Earning Potential
EMT salary depends on a lot of factors so it is best to know first what they do. A career as an EMT or Emergency Medical Technician will require you to be the first to respond to emergency situations wherein a person is needed to be brought to the hospital for treatment of an illness or an injury.
There are requirements to be an EMT like proper education and training. You also need to pass the written and practical certification exam that is given by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). Your tasks will include splinting, treating of wounds and controlling excessive bleeding plus much more.
An EMT is the entry level position to become a paramedic so their salary is lower compared to them. However, if you read the statistics and know where to position yourself best, you can earn the maximum EMT salary that is allowed.
A typical entry level salary for an EMT is usually $13.25 an hour. As you gain more experience you may reach a rate of $19.00 per hour. This is given to EMTs with 20 year of experience behind them. The Bureau of Labor Statistics report that an EMT has a median salary that reaches up to $31,000 annually. The lowest salary range is $18,800, which is earned by 10 percent of the total EMTs registered. The maximum earning that an EMT salary can reach is up to $49,000 every year.
An EMT-Basic, which is the entry level for Emergency Medical Technicians, earn up to $26,000 annually. If you stay in this level and do not continue your education to EMT Intermediate or EMT Paramedic, your work experience will still allow you to earn a higher income. Five to nine years as an EMT will let you earn $28,000 a year while 10 to 19 years will give you $31,000. 20 years as an EMT-Basic will earn you $36,000 annually – which is around $17.50 per hour.
The industry where you decide to work in can also affect the EMT salary that you can get. The state government is the highest paying employer for EMTs. The average annual wage you can get if you work for the government is $46,000 – excluding benefits.
The location wherein you choose to work is also a factor. Based on statistics, Hawaii is where EMTs get as much as $48,000 in a year. The other states that provides EMTs with high pay is Alaska with over $45,000 and Oregon with over $43,000. Denver is the highest paying city for EMTs with $33,000 of annual wages.
EMT salary is not as high compared to a paramedic. This is why it is highly encouraged that you continue with your education. An EMT is required to take refresher classes to keep their certification. Statistics show that a paramedic can earn as much as $70,000 annually in Washington. It is sure worth the investment and you get to improve your skills. Not only that, you will also be qualified to perform more difficult tasks if you get a paramedic certification.
An EMT career is a stepping stone for a lot of careers. Not only can you become a paramedic, you can also opt to continue on as a medical doctor. You may also consider teaching jobs or an administrative position in EMT training institutes.