The Average Salary of New York City Fire Department Emergency Medical Technicians

EMTs stabilize patients with medical emergencies for transport to a hospital.

The New York City Emergency Medical Services division responds to almost 1.2 million calls per year, according to the Fire Department of New York. The FDNY employs both emergency medical technicians and paramedics. You must possess the applicable certificate from the New York State Department of Health to work for New York City's EMS division. Paramedics must have DOH certification as a paramedic and hold a certificate from the Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committee of New York City, called a REMAC certification. EMTs must possess a valid DOH EMT certificate. Salary data for FDNY paramedics and technicians is available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the New York City Fire Department.

Average Salaries per BLS

As of May 2010, the BLS reported that paramedics and EMTs earned an average annual salary of $39,580 in the New York City metropolitan area that included White Plains, New York, and Wayne, New Jersey. In the part of New York City that included Long Island, New York, and Northern New Jersey, the average annual salary was $38,440.

EMT Salaries per FDNY

You can obtain a more accurate picture of New York City EMT salaries by reviewing the salary data released by the FDNY for 2010. The starting annual salary for an FDNY EMT was $31,931, with an increase to $33,740 after one year. After two years of employment, the annual base pay increased to $34,341, and after three years, it increased to $39,764. The base annual pay for an EMT was $45,834 after five years. These salaries do not include overtime, meal payments and shift pay.

Paramedic Salaries per FDNY

After you earn the required certifications, you may apply for a promotion to a paramedic. The annual base pay for FDNY paramedics was $43,690 to start, according to the FDNY's salary data for 2010. After 12 months, the annual salary rose to $48,127, and it increased to $50,091 per year after two years of experience. With three years of experience, the salary increased to $55,255 annually, and after five years, the annual base pay was $59,079. In addition to the salaries stated, paramedics were eligible for shift differential pay, overtime and meal money.

Benefits

Emergency medical technicians with the New York City Fire Department are covered under a collective bargaining agreement. Under the contract in force for 2010, FDNY paramedics and EMTs received three weeks of vacation time initially, and, after eight years of experience, received five weeks of vacation. Health insurance plans were available for employees, as well as their families and domestic partners. FDNY personnel had pension vesting after five years of experience, and could retire with full benefits after serving 25 years, with no minimum age requirement.

References

• New York City Fire Department: Benefits and Salary for EMS Members
• New York City Fire Department: Eligibility Requirements
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2010 – Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics
• New York City Fire Department: FDNY EMS – Giving Millions of New Yorkers a Second Chance at Life
• Regional Emergency Medical Services Council of New York City: About Us

Resources

• New York City Fire Department: How to Become a FDNY Paramedic or EMT
• BLS: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition – Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics