2015/2016 Average Bakersfield EMT Salary
Many of the Salary Surveys you find online are national salaries, so it’s tough to know what the average pay is in Central California, and Bakersfield, specifically. Salary.com broke down the salaries by region, and Bakersfield is included. So, the mean hourly pay for an EMT in Bakersfield is $16.35 per hour. Of course, this doesn’t include any overtime you may be working. By reading through some of the companies currently hiring EMT’s, hourly pay for a new EMT appears to hover at around $15.50 for a new EMT, with pay going near $18.00 hour for experienced EMT’s. Of course, if you further your education and complete Paramedic training, your salary will be even higher. So, considering the pay, EMT training in Bakersfield is an affordable way to begin a career in EMS.
How To Become An EMT
Different EMT Classifications
Duties Of An EMT In California
The EMT salary is one of the main reasons for which many people decide to become emergency medical technicians. EMTs are trained to reach an emergency site very quickly, no matter if they are responding to an accident or a person with a severe illness. They need to offer immediate help by themselves or with guidance from doctors. EMTs deal with gunshots, childbirth, heart attacks and automobile accidents. They are also trained to transport people safely to the nearest hospital and provide all the medical care they are entitled to until a doctor is able to take over. This job requires specific certification and training, which can differ from a state to another. Because an EMT usually work for more than 40 hours every week and on irregular shifts, the pay per hour can be better than yearly salaries.
According to statistics, as of October 2011, an EMT salary varies from $10.59 to $16.09 per hour. For overtime hours, EMTs earn from $15.39 to $23.98. With many annual bonuses in many states that range from $345 to $1,233, the total salary can vary between $26,027 and $42,343 per year. As EMTs gain more experience, they will earn more money for their performance. While an entry level job in the system is paid with an annual salary of $23,974 to $35,101, after one to four years in the field, the EMT salary will vary from $25,875 to $40,766. An EMT with five years of experience earns $30,018 to $44,122. For ten to nineteen years of experience, an EMT salary is $35,814 to $56,678 and after twenty years or more, it can reach a total ranging from $35,399 to $59,815. In order to become an EMT, you need at least a high school diploma and you can choose from three levels of training. The basic level of training can result in a salary that ranges from $21,876 to $31,236. The intermediate EMT can make a salary that varies from $24,189 to $35,487. An EMT paramedic can perform extensive procedures such as reading electrocardiograms and administering intravenous drugs and can earn an EMT salary ranging from $31,465 to $47,255.