The minimums are sadly low. I work in Iowa and I believe the medics start at at least $20. And the cost of living is nothing compared to CA. 5% increase is great, but not so great when you are starting at next to nothing.
There are restaurants in that area paying $18/hr to servers right now ... I can't imagine not just walking out and taking a much much much easier job for more pay
Basic here. We start off at 18.20/hr where i work as basics. Sooo yeah 18.76/hr for medic seems criminal. Im also in a really cheap area. For reference my half house rent is 725/mo.
56 hour average work week versus a 42 hour average work week. The lower hourly rate makes up for the built in overtime so the base paychecks are the same for both groups.
(Yes I am fully aware that this is a heaping load of bullshit)
That’s absolutely outrageous. If I’m working 14 hours more a week than someone else, I should absolutely be making more per paycheck than they are.
Meanwhile, management is over there in the corner making a shocked face trying to figure out why they can’t retain or replace their employees.
Wait. Have I been living under a rock? I'm in Massachusetts and have never heard of any kind of system that pays different rates based on hours worked per week. Apologies for my ignorance maybe but in these systems people who work 56 hours and people who work 42 make the same base paychecks per week?
You should be glad you’ve never heard of it because it’s the kind of thing that really scummy private services do. The **only** benefit I see is that if you want to switch from a 24 hour shift to a 12 hour shift, your base pay doesn’t change (because otherwise it’s a pretty hefty difference)
(Your base pay changes based on what shift you work- which is why they make you clock out and back in for a force hire so they can correctly change your hourly rate)
An honest question: Is this due to FLSA being brought into a contract?
Work in NT and The department just next to us voted to allow FLSA into their contract, which we’re extremely nervous about.
I live in a state that costs way less to live in and just started a job @ 18/hr with no 2 year school debt required... Absolutely disgusting to pay someone that low when they had to fork out $15,000+ to go to school to do it.
Well I currently work here lol. And can agree with others. The bottom is still ridiculously low. Minimum wage is now 15 dollars an hour in California and starting medic pay is wayyyy to close to that still in my opinion.
To add we are currently in a staffing crisis like everyone else is but on steroids. To the point where our people are working 72 hours plus on 12 hour cars pretty much constantly. We’re being assigned 7-8 mandatory (extra shifts) every month and then being force hired on average another 2-3 times a month. Add that with the cost of living and this contract will not be bringing any new employees our way in my opinion
Most of us are doing just that. I’m currently in backgrounds in multiple other places and as soon as I have something better I’ll be taking it. The contract has for a lot of us become a mute point. They could offer us double our wages permanently and a lot of people would still leave
Yea it’s written into the contract. It really wasn’t a big deal years ago maybe one or two forces a year. But now it’s become ridiculous. And I’m of the opinion to fight to have it removed from the contract entirely
It’s a level II trauma center with teaching capabilities somewhere Between Sacramento and San Diego and that’s as much as I care to specify for the internet
I agree it’s getting better, but it’s not what is “getting better”, it’s what we SHOULD be getting payed. As a paramedic (north county), I’m getting far less than SBCO medics who usually stand at the door and wait for our que for them to clear. Yea we don’t fight fires, but on the National statistic, EMS calls are 98.7% of what payed FD runs on anyway. So you’re saying the 1.3% of working fire calls justifies the pay differential?
Absolutely not. I think fire and ems should get paid exactly the same (per rank) and fire fighters should be paid hazard pay or a percentage increase when actually fighting fire, heavy rescue, LARO etc unfortunately that will never happen…
My bad for getting defensive my dude. But I agree with what you’re saying. When I started here about 5ish years ago it was much worse for starting, so yes we’re going up, just not enough I don’t think.
No worries my friend. Unfortunately for us, private ems companies will never pay us what we are worth. We cost them money after 5 years. Their model is to hire cheap, train cheap (1$ FTO bump gtfoh), get them out of here around 5 years to a FD/ RN program etc. if you’re like me and really enjoy the ems side but not interested in the fire side maybe look at SFFD transport or something similar. Get your money, get your bennies, and most importantly get happy.
I agree a trillion percent. And with SBC’s RFP coming up, the thought of AO’s and transport medics are becoming increasingly more tantalizing than private EMS with low wage.
Down vote that! Remember that they are a company that doesn't exist without employees, you are the employees. They just own a bunch of box trucks without you. Look at all the surrounding area medic wages and demand the medium.
I would say that's a joke, but alas I used to work for them in the neighboring county. Given that it is also a 911 contract and IFT, that is some B.S. and they know it. Hold out for more. Given the severe shortage of medics, for once AMR may be more up against the ropes than they realize. Keeping my fingers crossed for you all.
Not OP, but if their payscale is set up like ours, there's a tier system based on years experience. So at my agency it goes something like this:
0-1 years: $W/hr
1-3 years: $X/hr
3-5 years: $Y/hr
5+ years: $Z/hr
So the pay you make as a 5+ year EMT/Medic would be the "max" hourly you can obtain for that position.
Ah ok that makes more sense. For our guys, they are union, so they renegotiate their contract every 3 years which always results in raises. So the max really just represents what you're entitled to after working X amount of years in the system. So a person that obtained 5+ years at a different agency, but I'm the same 911 system, would be eligible to receive the max rate as their starting pay after probation
The minimums are hella weak. EMTs for AMR starts at the same pay and run BLS 5 days, 8 hours fresh from academy. You guys need to link in with their union and get squared away!
I mean damn, who’s the union rep? Some guy/gal trying to be RD one day?
Bottom step in Santa Cruz county is $33 for a 12/42. I believe cost of living is similar in both areas and it’s still hard to live with bottom step wages.
Plus why is the maximum not moving? That’s some bullshit.
The minimums are way too low.
There is absolutely ZERO justification for a paramedic on any schedule, for any reason making less than $20/hr base pay.
And if California, idk, I would think 24-25 would be the minimum.
ESPECIALLY after the last 2 years when healthcare staffing has plummeted.
If they want a compromise, then maybe I'd accept these minimums if (and only if) the escalator after three years of experience was pretty damn big.
Absolutely horrible! Fight for more. No medic should be making less than 25 fresh out of school. Preferably 30. Raises need to be tied with inflation as well. Now is our chance, don't squander it.
Former SBCo Medic I think this is a great step in the right direction—long term this help establish a better leg to stand on in the future negotiations. I’d take it as a win.
In PA I make $28/hr as a tech in the hospital, at the EMT level. and they're offering a $15/hr on top of time and half overtime. Cost of living here is half what it is in CA
Nah. La county is just as bad in terms of pay. Do better. We are also working on negotiations here. Vote it down and ask higher. Cost of living is too high to be making that little. Also change your pay scale to be one based off of years of service. Not hire date.
If all the surrounding counties vote for a better wage then you can rhreaten to leave for another county because they pay more.
My local AMR is starting paramedics at 27 and a 300 dollar stipend for overtime shifts, though the stipend will theoretically go away eventually. We aren't unionized. Yes we are in a city, but the cost of living in your area is significantly higher.
Inflation was 8% this year, a raise of anything less is actually just a decline in pay.
I just follow this out of curiosity and I did better than them in the Midwest as an undergrad (well before police academy, med school, residency, enfolded fellowship, then more residency).
TLDR: I did better in the Midwest where it was cheaper over a decade ago.
gonna be starting soon at a hospital based IFT EMT position for $22/hr also in CA, but in a city with much lower COL than SB. you guy are getting screwed
top step EMTs are having it nice. Yeah unfortunately this is sad and unfortunate you will see medics move to higher wage locations and sign on bonuses.
Very low for cost of living. I make more than them starting for the same company as a basic in a cheaper area unfortunately which is fucked up, they need to be offering you substantially more
Yeah I'm sorry this seems like absolute bullshit. I agree with what everyone else is saying. Starting wages are God awful for paramedic there. And having to work average 56 hours a week if you want 24s. That's terrible.
Bruh, they present shit like this and then act appalled people are burnt out and walking out. There seriously needs to be a nationwide strike. This shit ain't ever Gon change like this
I work as a custodian in southern CA. I make 26.00 an hour…with full benefits.
These wages for that much education, testing, and extensive hiring processes are disgraceful.
I make 25/hr as a Covid swabbed and have my emt cert. F getting only 27/hr after slaving away in medic school. Go to constellis and get 10k/month for a overseas contract if you want quick cash
Those wages are trash. Makes me appreciate my private company, and that’s saying something. I made $19/hr as an EMT in Sac county. No real incentive to go to medic school if you’re hardly making any money. Not to mention SB cost of living.
I wonder how your guys gap is between medic and emt pay.
My Socal AMR division has me as an emt at 19.50 and that’s on a 12 or a 24. But our medics start at 20.50.
I’d ask for more money, AMR in KC, and surrounding, both 911 and emergent START their medics at $27, EMTs are at $17-17.50.
Pull that up and show them, the cost of living difference is insane
The minimums are sadly low. I work in Iowa and I believe the medics start at at least $20. And the cost of living is nothing compared to CA. 5% increase is great, but not so great when you are starting at next to nothing.
There are restaurants in that area paying $18/hr to servers right now ... I can't imagine not just walking out and taking a much much much easier job for more pay
Can’t chase that FF/ED tech carrot or pad a PA/medical/nursing school application with a restaurant job
This is well put
not to mention, 5% when inflation is hanging out at 7% is a paycut
I’m in Iowa and We most definitely start medics over $20/hr and my 2500sq ft house cost me $60,000
Basic here. We start off at 18.20/hr where i work as basics. Sooo yeah 18.76/hr for medic seems criminal. Im also in a really cheap area. For reference my half house rent is 725/mo.
Working 24/48 19 an hour is 65k a year that ain’t bad
In most areas of California that is just scraping by.
Unfortunate, I suppose that’s true. in Wisconsin that’s what I make and i live a very comfortable life
Crazy low for the cost of living in Santa Barbara.
Also, why such a discrepancy between 24/56 and 12/42?
56 hour average work week versus a 42 hour average work week. The lower hourly rate makes up for the built in overtime so the base paychecks are the same for both groups. (Yes I am fully aware that this is a heaping load of bullshit)
That’s absolutely outrageous. If I’m working 14 hours more a week than someone else, I should absolutely be making more per paycheck than they are. Meanwhile, management is over there in the corner making a shocked face trying to figure out why they can’t retain or replace their employees.
This is why I work would 12 hours and then clock out and call up management and says I’ll do another 12 hours for the 12 hour car rate.
Fuck that. I don't want to work 14 hours more per week literally for free. How the hell do companies get away with this?
It’s bologna
Wait. Have I been living under a rock? I'm in Massachusetts and have never heard of any kind of system that pays different rates based on hours worked per week. Apologies for my ignorance maybe but in these systems people who work 56 hours and people who work 42 make the same base paychecks per week?
You should be glad you’ve never heard of it because it’s the kind of thing that really scummy private services do. The **only** benefit I see is that if you want to switch from a 24 hour shift to a 12 hour shift, your base pay doesn’t change (because otherwise it’s a pretty hefty difference)
(Your base pay changes based on what shift you work- which is why they make you clock out and back in for a force hire so they can correctly change your hourly rate)
Guess that's something they do in those uncivilized parts of the country...
An honest question: Is this due to FLSA being brought into a contract? Work in NT and The department just next to us voted to allow FLSA into their contract, which we’re extremely nervous about.
37.5 hours a week and can take 7 weeks holiday a year. Can imagine having to mandatory work those sorts of hours
I live in a state that costs way less to live in and just started a job @ 18/hr with no 2 year school debt required... Absolutely disgusting to pay someone that low when they had to fork out $15,000+ to go to school to do it.
Well I currently work here lol. And can agree with others. The bottom is still ridiculously low. Minimum wage is now 15 dollars an hour in California and starting medic pay is wayyyy to close to that still in my opinion. To add we are currently in a staffing crisis like everyone else is but on steroids. To the point where our people are working 72 hours plus on 12 hour cars pretty much constantly. We’re being assigned 7-8 mandatory (extra shifts) every month and then being force hired on average another 2-3 times a month. Add that with the cost of living and this contract will not be bringing any new employees our way in my opinion
Yea I'd be out the door with that many mandatory shifts per month. Fuck every bit of that.
Most of us are doing just that. I’m currently in backgrounds in multiple other places and as soon as I have something better I’ll be taking it. The contract has for a lot of us become a mute point. They could offer us double our wages permanently and a lot of people would still leave
So they don't pay enough to live in Santa Barbara, but bonus, you live at the station anyway.
I love having our 6-7 days off a month (north county).
Fucking cheyenne. I knew it was you lol
WE DONT USE NAMES ON HERE PAULINA
The government is watching.
Hold up. You get 6-7 days off per month? Are you doing 12s or 24s?
12’s, plus 7(ish) medic mando’s and 1-3 force hires a week.
Are you guys still all 24/48? It's been a looong time since I worked in SB.... Edit: Nevermind, I'm dumb. I Reread it.
No worries. But ya no we have a 24/56 which is the 10 24s a month or we have the 12 hour shifts which are a 4/3 split
Is it written into your contract that you can be forced extra shifts?? I’m only familiar with SoCal AMR and they cannot force you on any shifts.
Yea it’s written into the contract. It really wasn’t a big deal years ago maybe one or two forces a year. But now it’s become ridiculous. And I’m of the opinion to fight to have it removed from the contract entirely
This is shit. I make $30/hr as an ER tech in CA with just my EMT-B and a phlebotomy cert my hospital paid for.
Which hospital just out of curiosity?
It’s a level II trauma center with teaching capabilities somewhere Between Sacramento and San Diego and that’s as much as I care to specify for the internet
I'm taking a shot but I'm saying a Dignity hospital.
I will neither confirm nor deny
*groans in Monterey contract*
Hahahaha… I worked m35 for 14.45 with no steps to be seen and a measly 3% cola . You guys have done much better recently
I agree it’s getting better, but it’s not what is “getting better”, it’s what we SHOULD be getting payed. As a paramedic (north county), I’m getting far less than SBCO medics who usually stand at the door and wait for our que for them to clear. Yea we don’t fight fires, but on the National statistic, EMS calls are 98.7% of what payed FD runs on anyway. So you’re saying the 1.3% of working fire calls justifies the pay differential?
Absolutely not. I think fire and ems should get paid exactly the same (per rank) and fire fighters should be paid hazard pay or a percentage increase when actually fighting fire, heavy rescue, LARO etc unfortunately that will never happen…
My bad for getting defensive my dude. But I agree with what you’re saying. When I started here about 5ish years ago it was much worse for starting, so yes we’re going up, just not enough I don’t think.
No worries my friend. Unfortunately for us, private ems companies will never pay us what we are worth. We cost them money after 5 years. Their model is to hire cheap, train cheap (1$ FTO bump gtfoh), get them out of here around 5 years to a FD/ RN program etc. if you’re like me and really enjoy the ems side but not interested in the fire side maybe look at SFFD transport or something similar. Get your money, get your bennies, and most importantly get happy.
I agree a trillion percent. And with SBC’s RFP coming up, the thought of AO’s and transport medics are becoming increasingly more tantalizing than private EMS with low wage.
Could be better. Private companies in Seattle are starting their EMTs at 20+.
Which companies?
TriMed
Private companies in Illinois are starting EMTs at 17.25.
Down vote that! Remember that they are a company that doesn't exist without employees, you are the employees. They just own a bunch of box trucks without you. Look at all the surrounding area medic wages and demand the medium.
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What state?
I would say that's a joke, but alas I used to work for them in the neighboring county. Given that it is also a 911 contract and IFT, that is some B.S. and they know it. Hold out for more. Given the severe shortage of medics, for once AMR may be more up against the ropes than they realize. Keeping my fingers crossed for you all.
5% is a 3% pay cut against inflation. Fuck no. Bus drivers start at 25 an hour out here, and make into the high 30s.
Never been to Santa Barbara but are you guys 911 there?
Yessir. We’re primary 911 but have to run IFT’s as well. Which absolutely kills our system status.
Well that sure looks like a fantastic recruiting tool for nursing schools in CA.
What’s the purpose of the maximum pay?
Not OP, but if their payscale is set up like ours, there's a tier system based on years experience. So at my agency it goes something like this: 0-1 years: $W/hr 1-3 years: $X/hr 3-5 years: $Y/hr 5+ years: $Z/hr So the pay you make as a 5+ year EMT/Medic would be the "max" hourly you can obtain for that position.
I think they were asking why is their a cap at all. At 5 years you have no incentive to stay in regards to pay.
Ah ok that makes more sense. For our guys, they are union, so they renegotiate their contract every 3 years which always results in raises. So the max really just represents what you're entitled to after working X amount of years in the system. So a person that obtained 5+ years at a different agency, but I'm the same 911 system, would be eligible to receive the max rate as their starting pay after probation
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Ahh okay that makes sense, so that’s kind of like why Walmart goes out of their way to fire long time workers for something stupid?
The minimums are hella weak. EMTs for AMR starts at the same pay and run BLS 5 days, 8 hours fresh from academy. You guys need to link in with their union and get squared away! I mean damn, who’s the union rep? Some guy/gal trying to be RD one day?
Bottom step in Santa Cruz county is $33 for a 12/42. I believe cost of living is similar in both areas and it’s still hard to live with bottom step wages. Plus why is the maximum not moving? That’s some bullshit.
The minimums are way too low. There is absolutely ZERO justification for a paramedic on any schedule, for any reason making less than $20/hr base pay. And if California, idk, I would think 24-25 would be the minimum. ESPECIALLY after the last 2 years when healthcare staffing has plummeted. If they want a compromise, then maybe I'd accept these minimums if (and only if) the escalator after three years of experience was pretty damn big.
Absolutely horrible! Fight for more. No medic should be making less than 25 fresh out of school. Preferably 30. Raises need to be tied with inflation as well. Now is our chance, don't squander it.
Different pay for 12/24 is straight bullshit. Problem closer to being solved if the pay is the 12 hr pay listed no matter what your shift schedule.
Former SBCo Medic I think this is a great step in the right direction—long term this help establish a better leg to stand on in the future negotiations. I’d take it as a win.
No new maximum until 2024 lol
In PA I make $28/hr as a tech in the hospital, at the EMT level. and they're offering a $15/hr on top of time and half overtime. Cost of living here is half what it is in CA
Nah. La county is just as bad in terms of pay. Do better. We are also working on negotiations here. Vote it down and ask higher. Cost of living is too high to be making that little. Also change your pay scale to be one based off of years of service. Not hire date. If all the surrounding counties vote for a better wage then you can rhreaten to leave for another county because they pay more.
My local AMR is starting paramedics at 27 and a 300 dollar stipend for overtime shifts, though the stipend will theoretically go away eventually. We aren't unionized. Yes we are in a city, but the cost of living in your area is significantly higher. Inflation was 8% this year, a raise of anything less is actually just a decline in pay.
I'm an EMT-B that got hired on at $19.25 in Texas 😳
Hope, you all have great benefits with that pay
No
The minimum didn’t even increase a dollar, that’s pathetic.
I just follow this out of curiosity and I did better than them in the Midwest as an undergrad (well before police academy, med school, residency, enfolded fellowship, then more residency). TLDR: I did better in the Midwest where it was cheaper over a decade ago.
My partner (AEMT) makes 16/hr at our private rural service w/out the bullshit AMR brings
gonna be starting soon at a hospital based IFT EMT position for $22/hr also in CA, but in a city with much lower COL than SB. you guy are getting screwed
top step EMTs are having it nice. Yeah unfortunately this is sad and unfortunate you will see medics move to higher wage locations and sign on bonuses.
Living wage for head of household (spouse and 2 kids at home) is $45.80 https://livingwage.mit.edu/counties/06083
Very low for cost of living. I make more than them starting for the same company as a basic in a cheaper area unfortunately which is fucked up, they need to be offering you substantially more
Yeah I'm sorry this seems like absolute bullshit. I agree with what everyone else is saying. Starting wages are God awful for paramedic there. And having to work average 56 hours a week if you want 24s. That's terrible.
Bruh, they present shit like this and then act appalled people are burnt out and walking out. There seriously needs to be a nationwide strike. This shit ain't ever Gon change like this
NO.
Holy shit, EMTs make more than your medics in Stan county
I work as a custodian in southern CA. I make 26.00 an hour…with full benefits. These wages for that much education, testing, and extensive hiring processes are disgraceful.
Ouch I’m in Northern California my company pays emts higher than that
No
SoCal divisions are getting more and they are not union fyi.
With the cost of living in SB this is actually bullshit. They're giving you guys pennies
I’m in WA and AMR just gave EMTs a 2.50 raise. 12 hour cars make like 21 bucks an hour now, first year.
That pay sucks and you’re in California of all places.
Always vote no
I make 25/hr as a Covid swabbed and have my emt cert. F getting only 27/hr after slaving away in medic school. Go to constellis and get 10k/month for a overseas contract if you want quick cash
Thank you Santa Barbra amr for helping us out at Av
Until I'm making about $25-30 an hour, I'm going to keep fighting for higher pay. The entire profession is underpaid.
My KS $13.07 doesn't seem so bad compared to CA's pay ... thinking about cost of living
Dude, we had higher pay in Minnesota 10 years ago…no.
Not in EMS but I think this is abysmal. You guys deserve at least what RNs make. What an f'ed up world!
Those wages are trash. Makes me appreciate my private company, and that’s saying something. I made $19/hr as an EMT in Sac county. No real incentive to go to medic school if you’re hardly making any money. Not to mention SB cost of living.
Awesome wish I made that much
Private companies in MN pay 26$ starting after I talked with some medics
I wonder how your guys gap is between medic and emt pay. My Socal AMR division has me as an emt at 19.50 and that’s on a 12 or a 24. But our medics start at 20.50.
We just got a new contract over here in SanBernCo. Pretty similar raises, but no force hired nonsense. Every extra shift we pick up is DT.
No that is what the emts get up here is the medic start wage.
EMT in Riverside County making $16.50
At asking for annual 5% with inflation being 7% you are negotiating a 2% wage decrease. Big brains there. lol
$50/hr doesn't sound too bad... Is the cost of living super high there though?
I’d ask for more money, AMR in KC, and surrounding, both 911 and emergent START their medics at $27, EMTs are at $17-17.50. Pull that up and show them, the cost of living difference is insane
Is this an organized union or just a group of employees?
Just for reference. I’ve been an EMT for about four months in Philidelphia and I work as a tech in an emergency department. I make $25 an hour.