Emergency medical technician (EMT) paramedics receive a different salary than emergency room paramedics. EMT paramedics in Texas typically make between $20 to $30 per hour, with an annual salary that averages around $51,000.
Your exact pay will depend on your experience, location, and work shifts. This is why the right EMT certification training in Texas matters, as it can help you negotiate a higher wage. Additionally, if you go through an EMT training program that isn’t state-approved, that same program could be what disqualifies you from becoming an EMT in Texas. Don’t worry–if you complete and pass a state-approved program, you can qualify for your EMT certification again.
In this post, we’ll explain how much you can expect to get paid as an EMT paramedic in Texas and what factors can influence your pay rate.
Factors That Influence Pay
Three key factors influence your pay as a paramedic in Texas: experience, location, and the types of shifts you work.
Experience
When you’re just starting out in the field as a paramedic, there isn’t much you can do about a lack of experience. As you get further along in your career, you’ll get raises, which can increase your salary or hourly rate. However, if you volunteer as a paramedic or have worked in the emergency medical services (EMS) industry for many years, you can negotiate a higher salary than other applicants.
Location
Location plays a major role in determining how much you can get paid. Certain locations may have fewer EMT professionals, making the demand much higher for paramedics; fewer paramedics means more competitive wages. If more paramedics or EMT professionals than are needed are working in an area, the demand decreases, and wages can drop.
Additionally, certain cities have a higher cost of living than others. Because of this, these cities may have a higher minimum wage, which can result in higher wages for all jobs. Areas with a lower cost of living typically offer lower wages.
To make the most money, it’s a good idea to find a city that has a high need for paramedics and a cost of living that falls somewhere in the middle. If you live in a city with a higher cost of living, your paycheck won’t go quite as far.
Shift Type
Paramedics have shifts at all hours of the day. Overnight shifts and weekend shifts typically offer a shift differential, which means you can actually be paid more to work those shifts because they are less desirable and harder to fill.
Additionally, some areas with a higher need for paramedics might ask you to take two twenty-four-hour shifts. These are shifts where you are on the clock for two days straight, with downtime to allow you to rest and recuperate. Luckily, these shifts also typically come with a differential.
Where Do Paramedics Get Paid the Most in Texas?
Because location has such a major influence on how much you can get paid, it’s important to know where you have the highest potential to earn the most. According to ZipRecruiter, there are several cities in Texas that have beaten Texas’s average wage and salary for paramedics by over 20%. These cities include:
- Justin, Texas: Annual salary is $65,000 and hourly wage is $31.29
- Spicewood, Texas: Annual salary is $63,200 and hourly wage is $30.39
- Harlingen, Texas: Annual salary is $58,200 and hourly wage is $27.99
- San Angelo, Texas: Annual salary is $57,800 and hourly wage is $27.77
The national average hourly rate for an EMT paramedic is $25.84, so jobs in these cities are extremely competitive compared to that national rate.
Do Benefits Matter?
You should also consider the benefits offered when applying for jobs as a paramedic. A job might pay a higher hourly rate but offer less-desirable benefits than a position with a lower hourly rate.
Positions that offer a 401k, vital healthcare and dental care benefits, and employer-subsidized insurance policies can sometimes be a better deal for you, even if they come with a lower hourly rate. Ask to see the benefits package once you have job offers and compare them to see what makes the most financial sense.
In a Nutshell
Paramedics in Texas can make more money than the average nationwide paramedic. With our Video Vault, you’ll gain access to countless study materials and exclusive access to The Paramedic Coach community made up of EMS professionals.
Our community can give you the insights you need about where you want to apply as a paramedic, how to negotiate the best salary, and what you can do to further your career in EMS. Check it out today!
