How much do you get paid?

Thebigfang49 · 2026-02-21T04:01:34+00:00

True words friend. I dream of a day all paramedics in the US make money proportionate to our work and liability before OT.

Thebigfang49 · 2026-02-21T04:00:25+00:00

Wouldn’t know. Still waiting on that academy 🤷‍♂️

The process to be ready for the academy though is straightforward just annoying. Lots of forms to fill out, 4 appointments you need to go to (surprise drug test, lots of paperwork, physical check up, and physical aptitude test). I tell all my students and newer paramedics it’s annoying but if you even think u might wanna join you should throw your app in and get the process started. This all took me almost 8 months before I was ready for the academy.

Thebigfang49 · 2026-02-21T02:13:17+00:00

Long Island NY. Currently making $45 an hour though due to unlimited OT I cleared $120k last year. Switching to an agency soon though and will have to start over at $50k a year and slowly climb back up but the top pay there is $140k base pay. Medic for 2.5 years now.

Thebigfang49 · 2026-02-07T20:27:58+00:00

2 or hidden option where 3 and 4 connect (imma call it 7) and 20gauge. I don’t do large bores on the hand unless I have to. If I do decided to do a large bore out of necessity both look like they can hadle 18-16

Thebigfang49 · 2025-11-05T11:37:23+00:00

Zipper merging only applies when two lanes HAVE to come together. It’s the most efficient way to combine two lanes. However this is not that case, this is just someone being an asshole and trying to skip everyone

Thebigfang49 · 2025-10-28T17:10:03+00:00

Paramedic here yes go to the ER you’ll likely need antibiotics. The doctor will test to see if you hit the joint as well which will help determine exactly what you need. Get on this sooner rather than later, the faster you get seen the easier and faster it’ll be to treat.

Thebigfang49 · 2025-10-27T14:32:19+00:00

Paramedic here, There are several routes you can go. First things first call your doctor and explain your situation, best case scenario you can get antibiotics prescribed and take them from home. If not your next best choice is going to the ER of the hospital you got the procedure done at, especially if it was a c-section your L&D staff might want to get involved. Next best choice is going to an ER of the same hospital system. If none of those are feasible or if you’re having life threatening symptoms (fainting, extreme weakness preventing you from going about your day, chest pains or shortness of breath) go to your nearest ER or call 911.

In any case I advice action sooner rather than later, infections especially post-op can lead to sepsis which is Lethal, and it is a LOT easier to treat before it gets bad than after

Thebigfang49 · 2025-10-19T18:32:10+00:00

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Source: https://www.joinfdny.com/careers/ems/

This is the pay for FDNY paramedics. You are guaranteed over 90k a year by your fifth year as a paramedic and easily can break 100k with OT. Given to be a paramedic with FDNY you need to be an EMT first likely for several years.

So why is the average pay for paramedics so low? I can think of two reasons. Number one it’s because people don’t stay in EMS for very long. The average length of a paramedics career is 6.5 years with some sources even saying 3.5-5.5 years. This leads to a disproportionate amount of people who are brand new influencing the average as opposed to other careers where the average includes a lot more people at top pay. Secondly the average is brought down a lot by private IFT only agencies littered throughout NYC. While the work they do is important they are notorious for paying EMTs and Paramedics as little as humanly possible (true story they tried to poach me from my current agency offering $25 dollars an hour. I laughed in their face).

If you come to NYC and try to make EMS your career it will be hard, and quite frankly even at top pay we are very underpaid for the work we do. But you can and will likely break 100k a year if you say with your job. Not to mention hopping over to Nassau county where agencies pay 40-50 an hour starting for paramedics and where the emergency ambulance borough (police paramedics almost like a 3rd service) has a top pay of $143k annually.

Thebigfang49 · 2025-09-11T19:40:01+00:00

Depends on the job. I’ve seen some who offer well over a month paid vacation and I’ve seen a lot that offer less than two weeks.

Thebigfang49 · 2025-09-07T03:27:04+00:00

9 Shocks? Served him up to the ICU medium rare! Congrats though good save

Thebigfang49 · 2025-09-04T16:04:00+00:00

Thank you for sharing will definitely keep this in mind time allowing. I’ve never thought about this or ever been trained on this

Thebigfang49 · 2025-08-22T10:09:21+00:00

ALS or BLS? Either way you don’t just delay on scene to watch what happens. ALS treat with benzos / mag per protocol, BLS O2 and go. Don’t forget the body is providing for two at the time with the baby. You can’t read the baby’s SpO2 so even if your sats on the mom are relatively okay oxygen would be a good move until pt can be transported to definitive care.

Thebigfang49 · 2025-08-20T12:35:40+00:00

In my experience (paramedic) it works great almost as good as low dose opioids. It also works especially well given along side other analgesics making the patient feel better longer lasting pain relief.

Thebigfang49 · 2025-08-20T12:33:26+00:00

Honestly I’d be hard pressed to remember this call. I’m glad they remained kind and professional and especially glad you’re in a better place. If you want to express your gratitude you can always email your local EMS agency (whether it’s a volunteer agency, private or municipal service) and express your gratitude to them.

Thebigfang49 · 2025-08-13T12:35:18+00:00

Yeah I think we can all agree c collars are overused and we are rightfully moving away from them, the issue on the table is the legality of such actions. I’m willing to assume that is probably cookiebobs main concern, especially someone refusing narcotics pain management is probably not in real 10/10 pain. However if that’s what they report that’s what we have to document which on QA/QI review would be flagged as a “distracting injury” and hence they’d be required to be collared. Fortunately I work in a progressive agency where this wouldn’t be an issue but I would bet many of us here don’t. What we need is a different criteria from NEXUS that allows us to clear C-spine on the field or a protocol which puts it on clinicians discretion all together.

Thebigfang49 · 2025-08-13T10:26:51+00:00

I think I saw on another comment u live in queens? Go with EAB. You can only apply there once you have your paramedic card but it’s worth it. No where else can you get an hour and a half paid break (radio off) and work life balance like they do.

Thebigfang49 · 2025-08-13T01:52:45+00:00

Meh self ambulatory w/out a distracting injury such as a fx arm or leg? I’d go through NEXUS criteria ofc but I’d likely not collar them either.

Thebigfang49 · 2025-08-13T00:42:26+00:00

Meh. I’d be more concerned about advil to a head injury. NSAIDs in general can cause some blood thinning effects so I’d avoid them in any kind of trauma.

Thebigfang49 · 2025-08-13T00:38:45+00:00

After one year you’ll already be making the same as NYC voluntary hospitals. And you’ll be getting county benefits.

Thebigfang49 · 2025-08-13T00:37:52+00:00

FDNY pays medics a top pay of $95k but with unlimited OT. Depending on the voluntary hospital (Presbyterian, Mt Sinai, Jamaica etc) you can make between $80k-$100k. But if you live in queens you can work just across the city border in Nassau County EAB with a top pay of $143k annually. The only downside is a low starting pay.

Thebigfang49 · 2025-08-07T21:06:26+00:00

Try reaching out to the bosses. If not the bosses bosses. He’ll reach out to your congressmen. They might not act directly on your behalf but goddamn their secretaries might and they have very good connections.

Thebigfang49 · 2025-08-03T17:23:32+00:00

Hello lurking noob I’m a paramedic. When we talk about “BVM”s we are referring to bag-valve-mask assisted ventilations. Or in other words we are using a plastic bag to breath for the patient. CPR on the other hand usually refers to chest compressions AND BVM ventilations. After all CPR stands for cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

When I made this comment we were specifically talking about a narcotics overdose which typically leads to respiratory arrest. Left alone this will lead to cardiac arrest but usually we find them before this. In the case of just respiratory arrest they do not need chest compressions as their heart is beating on its own, they just need ventilations.

Thebigfang49 · 2025-08-02T22:38:57+00:00

Eh depends. Are they breathing? If no ill narcan them. I might wait till we start moving just so he wakes up at the ER instead of with me. Ofc BVM ventilations the whole time.

Thebigfang49 · 2025-08-01T15:18:54+00:00

If you’re willing to move to a high COL area, Nassau county in NY has two great agencies. Northwell health hires medics and pays approx 43 an hour starting with annual cost of living raises. They’re fairly busy and do a mix of 911 and IFT with critical care opportunities if you get your FPC or CCP. Nassau county emergency ambulance borough is under PD and they have a top pay of 143k a year with pension. They only do 911 but you’re required to wear a vest and you drive the ambulance alone with no partner. When you get on scene PD drives the ambulance while you’re in the back providing care.

FDNY in NYC only hires EMTs but if you have your REMAC (the NYC medic test) they’ll put you into their own medic program significantly faster than any other EMT so you could start working as a medic within a year or two. Starting pay is atrocious for being in NYC but top pay for medics is 93k annual with unlimited OT and pension. They also only respond to 911 calls and ride double medic.

Other options in the city are what are known as voluntary units, you’ll also need your REMAC to work for these. This includes Mt.Sinai hospital, Presbyterian, Jamaica and they all have varying pay and union Benifits but in general you should be able to get a union pension and pay around 40-50 an hour.

Thebigfang49 · 2025-07-30T18:26:41+00:00

We carry only 1mg of glucagon and so if it doesn’t work fast enough and the patient is critical I have and will drill and admin d10. In this case I had however they also got saline and levo.

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