re: Are EMTs/Paramedics the most underpaid folks out there?

Totally depends where you are at in the country. Where Im at we make very good money. We are fire based EMS. We do work for it though, Right now I'm on day 3 of 5, 24 hour shifts. I work an average of around 60-70 extra shifts per year, and pull crooked number 6 figures. Our system runs around 17000 calls per year, 85% EMS. Been at it for 27 years.

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Totally depends where you are at in the country. Where Im at we make very good money. We are fire based EMS. We do work for it though, Right now I'm on day 3 of 5, 24 hour shifts. I work an average of around 60-70 extra shifts per year, and pull crooked number 6 figures. Our system runs around 17000 calls per year, 85% EMS. Been at it for 27 years.

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Very area dependent for sure, EMS only medics in Louisiana not long ago were making low $20/hr, not sure what it is now. Yeah I was just speaking straight pay, once you figure in OT sky is the limit for many professions, were have experienced ICU nurses making $200k/yr with critical shift pay and OT.

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Are EMTs/Paramedics the most underpaid folks out there? by CajunDocResident doctors have entered the chat

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the fact that this has an upvote to downvote ratio of 13:16 tells you that the general public has no idea about how abused resident physicians are.

People hear physician and think residents are fairly compensated.

Here's a heads up: residents are the most vulnerable employees at any hospital system. The most to lose on any given day. They get abused by attendings, nurses, techs, patients, CNAs, you name it.

If they ever speak up about the abuse, they risk jeopardizing 300k in med school loans, let alone a complete career trajectory change.

80+ work weeks with one day off per week. Oh, and sometimes, that one day off is a post-call day, meaning you worked overnight until 7AM and will go home and immediately to bed on your one day off, wake up at 6pm, then try to fix your sleep routine to be up again for work in 12 hours.

Think about this: EVERY other career posted in this thread can quit and find a job elsewhere. Leaving your residency job is career suicide + med school debt.

If anyone has any clue about the medical profession, the answer to OP is resident physicians

As someone who works in EMS in a city with a dozen nursing homes, most nurses at SNFs are LPNs and are awful at their jobs. Don’t know anything about the patient, “I don’t usually work on this hall” “this is my first shift with this resident” or my personal favorite when the patient has fixed and dilated pupils and is cold and stiff and says they just saw them alive 20 minutes ago. I could go on. I know several that are actually decent but the majority suck.

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80+ work weeks with one day off per week. Oh, and sometimes, that one day off is a post-call day, meaning you worked overnight until 7AM and will go home and immediately to bed on your one day off, wake up at 6pm, then try to fix your sleep routine to be up again for work in 12 hours.

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That's sounds extremely miserable. What's an estimated salary/rate for a resident?

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They're completing their training. After which, they'll be overpaid on behalf of government creating artificial healthcare demand.

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Tell me you have no idea what you’re talking about without telling me.

Yes they’re in training. Do you know what that means? Do you think it’s only watching and doing nothing, or do you think often times they’re the only one seeing the patient and deciding the treatment plan. Often times they’re the only one in the surgery.

Artificial healthcare demand?

See how long it takes you to get in to see a specialist.

There are different levels of training for EMT: Basic, Intermediate and Advanced, and then Paramedic, each commensurate with the level of education and experience.

Wouldn’t think you want an electrician apprentice wiring up your house. Same for EMT Basic trying to keep you alive on the way to the hospital.

EMT-B course is about 4 months while the Paramedic course is usually 12 months. Acadian hires both B and P.

Each tier is paid based upon market demands. These guys typically work a 72 hr shift and they make their money on OT, and by working more than one job or covering shifts.

My doctor friend says this is the case. Said people go on and on about hero nurses but the EMTs/paramedics by far get the rawest deal considering the work they out in.

I'm poor but I can't imagine being poor and also having to pull up on a scene of a suicide or a fatal accident where children were involved. Having to go home with that in your brain would torture and, imo, seriously diminish quality of life.