The EMS professions continue to change, grow and adapt in response to an increasingly dynamic environment. As seen in previous JEMS Salary Surveys, many aspects of the prehospital professions have grown over the years as the discipline evolves into a respected, valuable role within our national health-care system. This year’s survey provided ample evidence of this increased growth in the various EMS careers.
In general, this year’s survey suggested an overall salary growth of approximately 3.8% from 2002. This growth rate is consistent with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic’s estimate of civilian workers’ most recent 12-month compensation growth of 3.9%. Starting salaries demonstrated the greatest growth rate at 4.7%, with top annual salaries expanding a bit less at 2.9%. Some EMS positions (e.g., Quality Management Director) enjoyed a significant degree of salary growth based on the data provided by the survey respondents.
Overall, the results suggest a promising future for the EMS professions, with increased stability and growing compensation.
