EMTs are best known for working in high-stress environments and saving people’s lives. EMTs should be paid more for the lifesaving work they do.

EMTs play a pivotal role in the medical field by providing immediate life-saving medical care, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Compensation should be based on challenges EMTs face on a daily basis. Often, the main occupational challenge for EMTs is making difficult decisions on the spot, according to a 2022 study published in the National Library of Medicine.

Scott Robinson, chair of the department of public administration at NIU, said EMTs jobs are important and their compensation should reflect that.

“I believe they are not compensated as well for considering how important a role they play in our healthcare system,” Robinson said. “They are working in a high-stress environment where they confront some of the most challenging medical issues in our entire system, and yet they are not compensated well at all, almost like volunteers.”

EMTs’ median annual salaries from a national standpoint was $36,680 in May 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Even teachers’ annual salary is more than EMTs. In the 2022-2023 school year, teachers’ annual salary was $68,469, according to Education Week. Teachers’ jobs are extremely important and crucial, but EMTs save people’s lives and their earnings don’t reflect their life-saving jobs.

Excluding the state of Washington, EMTs make less per hour than distribution workers. EMTs are just as, if not more, important than distribution jobs. 

The lack of representative wages EMTs are paid is ridiculous and unfair, especially for the amount of work they do. 

Being an EMT provides great experience for individuals who may want to pursue a medical field career and has many requirements, such as enrolling in an EMT training program, completing a training course, passing a cognitive and psychomotor exam, obtaining state certification and also obtaining an EMT license, according to International Medical Aid.

Alexandra Henriquez, a junior biological sciences major, said although experience is a good incentive for EMTs to work, they deserve increased wages.

“I believe that experience is something that is good to have, however, EMTs do put their lives at risk under certain situations, and life doesn’t have a price,” Henriquez said. “I believe that if they are putting their lives at risk for a job, they should be compensated well for it.” 

EMTs receiving low pay could have major consequences. 

If EMTs don’t get paid the amount they deserve, many may leave the profession and seek other jobs. Those who remain in the profession may get burnt out.

Robinson said many EMTs are leaving the profession due to the low pay.

“Some of the most qualified and high performing EMTs I’ve known have left the profession because they realized that if they wanted to actually have a career where they could support themselves in a lifestyle that they were hoping for, they would instead need to be a nurse or a doctor,” Robinson said. “And so they would leave being an EMT to pursue those other options even if they really enjoyed the work and were quite good at it.”

EMTs should be better appreciated, and it’s crucial that their compensation increases.