How much money does a paramedic make?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, paramedics and emergency medical technicians earned a median annual wage of $31,270, as of May 2013. The lowest-paid EMTs and paramedics made less than $20,000 annually, while the highest earning made more than $54,000.

The average salary of paramedics differs, depending on the type of employment. Paramedics employed by ambulatory services commonly earn wages on the lower end of the spectrum, whereas general or surgical hospitals commonly pay higher wages. Local governments are likely to pay workers at higher rates than the private sector. In rural and small metropolitan areas, due to the smaller workload, paramedics offer their services without pay.