This article, originally published on April 6, 2011, has been updated with new information.
If you’re wondering how to find EMT jobs, you’ve come to the right place.
EMT JOB GROWTH
If you’re a certified EMT, the prospects for finding a job are good. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor of Statistics (BLS), employment prospects in this field are expected to increase 6% by 2029, which is a faster rate than most professions are projected to grow. Projections for EMT jobs forecast that the number of aging baby boomers is expected to increase job opportunities for both EMTs and paramedics as they need more medical assistance.
Additionally, the proposed growth of available EMT jobs is also linked to overcrowding in hospital emergency rooms, which means that patients spend more time in rescue vehicles. Oftentimes, after arriving at the ER, EMTs have to transport the patient to another hospital that has more space. As more EMTs are occupied longer with each case, more EMTs will need to be hired to fill the demand of this current phenomenon. This is good news for people looking for EMT jobs.
In addition to doing ambulance work, there are a variety of EMT jobs in other venues. EMTs are employed at fire departments, ski areas, summer camps, recreation centers, oil rigs, National Parks, cruise ships and wilderness teaching programs. There are also some great teaching opportunities for EMTs, with the growing number of training programs cropping up all over the country creating new jobs all the time.
Where to find EMT jobs and how much they pay
There are a wide variety of online job listing sites for EMT jobs. They list jobs by city and state, as well as by job description. If you’re willing to relocate, EMS job opportunities are enormous. Large cities and places with a larger population of elders have more demand for EMTs.
According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, EMT jobs pay an average of $36,500 a year, with an average hourly wage of $17.62 as of May 2020. The highest-paid 10% of EMTs earned about $62,150 a year.
Ambulance work, which in addition to emergency rescue work, includes transporting patients from varying medical facilities in non-emergency situations, is the biggest source of EMT jobs. These types of jobs pay an average annual salary of about $30,000. The top-paying state for EMS jobs was Hawaii, with an average pay scale of $56,610 a year. Missouri has the highest number of EMS workers, with an average wage of $37,120 a year as of 2019.
If you progress through an EMS Academy and get certified as a paramedic, the pay scale jumps to an average of about $40,000 annually with the top earners in the field taking home as much as $70,000 a year. Moving up from an EMT to a paramedic certification is a good move, but it requires a considerable amount of time dedicated to the additional schooling.
Finding EMT jobs should be relatively simple, provided you’re willing to put in the time to investigate all of the opportunities in your area. If you’re willing to live in a big city like Los Angeles or New York City, you’ll find that EMT jobs are even more plentiful.
