Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - Basic Salary
Median pay for Basic Emergency Medical Technicians in the United States lies in the neighborhood of $12.00 per hour. While the particular city and tenure impact pay for this group, the particular firm is the most influential factor. Job satisfaction is reported as high by the vast majority of workers. While more than a third report receiving no health benefits, a majority do receive medical coverage, and a little less than half have dental, as well. The majority of Basic Emergency Medical Technicians (69 percent) who took the survey are men.
Job Description for Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - Basic
Emergency medical technicians, or EMTs, work in an ambulance and respond to emergency situations. An entry-level EMT is also called an EMT-B, which means emergency medical technician-basic.Read More...
EMT-Bs work with emergency medical technician-intermediates and emergency medical technician-paramedics in an ambulance, and with anyone they are assisting. They also work alongside nurses and physicians to perform the services that a patient needs. Since they are entry-level workers, EMT-Bs are not trained to deliver extensive medical care to anyone who needs it; rather, they perform treatment at the site of the emergency such as creating splints for broken bones, taking a patient’s vitals, and bandaging a wound, administering oxygen. They are also responsible for the transporting patients to the hospital. Since emergencies can happen at any time, hours can vary significantly. For example, an EMT-B could work at day or night, in eight-hour shifts or 12-hour shifts.
A high school education is required for EMT-Bs, as is training from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); for that NHTSA training, participants attend mandatory classroom hours, as well as clinical rotations in emergency settings. However, continuing education is required for EMT-Bs even after they obtain this certification.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - Basic Tasks
- Assess nature and extent of illness or injury to establish and prioritize medical procedures.
- Maintain vehicles and medical and communication equipment, and replenish first-aid equipment and supplies.
- Coordinate work with other emergency medical team members and police and fire department personnel.
- Administer basic first-aid treatment and life-support care to sick or injured persons in prehospital setting.
- Perform emergency diagnostic and treatment procedures, such as stomach suction, airway management or heart monitoring, during ambulance ride.
Common Career Paths for Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - Basic
As Basic Emergency Medical Technicians transition into upper-level roles such as Physician Assistant, they may see a strong upturn in salary. Physician Assistants earn $84K on average per year. Basic Emergency Medical Technicians moving up in their careers tend to step into positions as Paramedics or Paramedics. The median paychecks in those roles are $11K higher and $3K higher, respectively.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - Basic Job Listings
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Popular Employer Salaries for Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - Basic
American Medical Response, Rural / Metro Ambulance Services, AMR Corp, U.S. Air Force (USAF), and U.S. Army are top-notch employers for Basic Emergency Medical Technicians in this area. Employees at U.S. Air Force (USAF) enjoy the biggest paychecks, and $36K is the median salary. Range in pay, on the other hand, is narrow, with lower figures hovering around $31K and higher ones not far away at only $48K. Rural Metro Corp., U.S. Army, and Care Ambulance are a few other companies that offer generous salaries, with Basic Emergency Medical Technicians earning around $35K, $33K, or $32K at each firm, respectively.
Other low-paying employers include Lifeline Ambulance at $23K and Rural / Metro Ambulance Services at $25K, though some Basic Emergency Medical Technicians there earn up to $35K.
Popular Skills for Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - Basic
Survey results show that Basic Emergency Medical Technicians use a fair number of skills. Most notably, facility with Phlebotomy, Critical Care, and Emergency Response are correlated to pay that is significantly above average, leading to increases of 20 percent, 11 percent, and 8 percent, respectively. Skills that seem to negatively impact pay include CPR. It is often found that people who know Emergency Medical Services are also skilled in CPR.
Pay by Experience Level for Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - Basic
Median of all compensation (including tips, bonus, and overtime) by years of experience.
For many Basic Emergency Medical Technicians, extensive experience does not lead to significantly more money. Survey participants with less than five years' experience pocket $26K on average, but those with five to 10 years of experience enjoy a much bigger median of $31K. For Basic Emergency Medical Technicians, 10 to 20 years of experience on the job amounts to an average salary of $31K. Basic Emergency Medical Technicians who have acquired more than two decades of experience generally do see greater compensation; their average income is approximately $34K.
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Key Stats for Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - Basic
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