Paramedic Program
Klump Academic Center, Rm. 4 · (570) 329-4931
Career Opportunities
According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment opportunities for paramedics are growing faster than average with a projected increase of 19% through 2016. Currently many regions are experiencing a shortage of paramedics with an increased need to support population growth and an aging population.
Most paramedics are hired by private service, fire department, municipal/governmental, or hospital-based ambulance companies. Opportunities to specialize as a paramedic includes tactical medicine with police departments, critical care inter-facility transport including aeromedical services, disaster management with technical rescue teams, primary healthcare within the federal prison system, and industrial medicine including oil rigs.
Advancement within the Emergency Medical Services profession includes administrative, governmental, public health, and education. Promotion often requires academic degree credentials.
The national average starting salary for an EMT-Paramedic varies widely, based on region of the United States, according to the 2008 Salary and Workplace Survey conducted by the Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS). Average national salaries range from $32,909.29 to $41,809.34 with a median annual wage of $37,699.78 for field paramedics. Field supervisory positions serve as liaisons with management. Field Training Officers (FTO) have a median annual wage of $45,538.47 and field supervisors have a median annual wage of $51,129.28.