Are you a superhero in regular people’s clothing then check out the best states for emergency medical technicians and paramedics. These guys and gals are pretty much amazing. If you are an EMT–or studying to become one–then you probably want to check out which state is great for you to live in. Even paramedics want to know where they can buy a house at an affordable rate when they’re not singlehandedly (or double handedly saving lives). For the answers to this and more, read on.
My niece is 5 and obsessed with the television show Chicago Fire. She would love to be an EMT. In fact, she recently was helping my mom change the sheets and she said “on my count, 1, 2, 3,” as if they were moving someone from a stretcher to a hospital gurney. Thanks, Dick Wolf. It’s nice to see non-Chicagoan EMTs also have the opportunity to do well.
She would be a great EMT and be able to live in a variety of states. This is a good thing because she’s also gonna need some room for the horse farm she wants to have on the side. I respect her ambition. I don’t know many EMT/horse farmers and can confidently say that of all the multi-hypenates out there, this is one of the least common for sure.
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But, what do EMTs and paramedics really do? Is it what we see on television? For starters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics are the people we usually see at events to ensure first aid treatment in case something unexpected takes place. These people are in charge of caring for the sick and injured in emergency settings. It could be anywhere from a party, team buildings, and even in schools. In the US, people depend on EMTs and paramedics to show up when they dial 911 and to help them out in high-stress situations.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), emergency medical technicians and paramedics are responsible for responding to 911 calls, providing first aid treatment, transporting patients to the ambulance and to the emergency section of the hospital thereafter, reporting patient’s condition to attending physician, and cleaning first aid equipment after use. From the job description itself, anybody can tell how demanding the job is. To say that these people hold a big responsibility is an understatement. But I wonder how many of them also hold the added responsibility of a horse farm?
To become an emergency medical technician and paramedic is not as easy as it seems. It requires a high school diploma, a CPR certification, and several training courses–the higher level EMT license the more you need many hours of training. Because of how demanding the job is, it simply is not for everyone. Being a paramedic is more challenging than being an emergency medical technician, in terms of education. The former would need to take advanced EMT levels of instruction because they need to have advanced medical skills. Needless to say, the road to being a full-fledged licensed EMT and paramedic is–much like the song–long and winding.
Also according to BLS, the annual median salary for this occupation is $31,980. That’s just about $15.38 per hour. I would say they deserve more than that for the pressures of the job they do, but it is what it is. Do you think being an EMT and paramedic is one of the 5 best paying medical jobs with least education?
These people are usually employed by schools, hospitals, ambulance services, and the local government. The expected job growth for emergency medical technicians and paramedics is at 24%, which is actually faster than any other occupation in America. EMTs and paramedics work in varying shifts since emergencies can occur at any time. This is also one of the most challenging parts of the job. Needless to say, this occupation needs patience and physical stamina, but the fulfillment one gets after giving a successful first aid treatment and emergency response makes the job a very rewarding one.
Choosing the best states for emergency medical technicians and paramedics is more than just looking at the wages. Topping this list are states hitting the perfect combination of great pay, low cost of living, and fair employment rates for these workers.
The criteria we used for the list include cost of living, annual median salaries, and employment rates. Cost of living index for each state was sourced from the Missouri Economic and Research Information Center, while the data for employment rates and salaries were derived from BLS. Each ranking was averaged, which gave us the results reflected in the article.
Read on to know more about the best states for emergency medical technicians and paramedics.
