This question is about emergency medical technician salaries.

Why is EMT pay so low?

By Kate Swindlehurst - Mar. 13, 2023

EMT pay is low due to low education requirements, competitive volunteer efforts, and insurance issues. There are many reasons why EMT pay is so low, especially when compared to similar positions in the medical field.

EMT certification is shorter than many other similar certifications for similar roles in the medical field, and because of this, they are often paid less. Along with shorter certification, many small towns with ambulances have volunteers drive them, which allows for competition between EMTs and these volunteers and can lower pay rates.

Finally, insurance cap reimbursement for ambulance rides is often lower than the actual service cost. Often, when this occurs, patients just do not pay the bill. This leads to many unpaid medical bills. Medical agencies run like businesses, so lowered revenue leads to lower salaries and pay for EMTs.

Choose from 10+ customizable resume templates

Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.