Graduates of our programs are qualified to function as field paramedics, supervisors, and managers in a variety of settings, locations, and positions. Many of our graduates find themselves in supervisory or managerial positions within a few short years of entering the EMS workforce.

The most current salary information for Paramedics is available from industry analysts such as Payscale.com. Bear in mind that most EMS positions involve built-in overtime compensation rates given the 24 hour shifts common for field providers; a Paramedic who works 56 hours a week on a traditional 24/48 shift schedule (a 24 hour shift followed by 48 hours off) would typically see 16 of those hours paid at 150% of the advertised base rate.

Anecdotally, several EMS agencies in the Commonwealth of Kentucky offer entry-level Paramedics wages between $50,000 to $70,000 a year, with additional fringe benefits, annual cost of living increases and bonuses for education and certifications. In our estimation, drawn from the numerous job postings sent to us by employers seeking our graduates each month, the national average base salary for a Paramedic is approximately $50,000.

Pictured above, Ryan Hunter, ’15, on duty as a wilderness Paramedic with the Red River Gorge Special Treatment, Access and Rescue Team (RedSTAR). Ryan is also a Flight Paramedic in the Kentucky Army National Guard, and a Firefighter/Paramedic for Montgomery County, KY Fire/EMS.

Some of the positions our graduates have achieved upon graduation include:

• Firefighter/Paramedics for local, state, and federal agencies.
• Field Paramedics with local, state, and federal agencies.
• EMS supervisors/administrators at the local, state, and federal levels.
• Flight Paramedics with regional, national, and international HEMS companies. 
• Federal Law Enforcement/Tactical Paramedics with agencies such as the FBI, ATF, and Diplomatic Security Service.
• Remote Paramedics, working in locations such as Antarctica and Alaska.
• State-level EMS regulators and administrators.
• EMS educators at prominent colleges and universities. 
• Public Health and Medical disaster incident managers at the state and federal level.
• Emergency Medical Technicians with agencies throughout Kentucky and the country.

Pictured above, Charles Williams, ’86, working as a NASCAR Paramedic at Kentucky Speedway in conjunction with his job as the Air Medical Base Supervisor for PHI-1 in London, KY.

For detailed job descriptions, visit the U. S. Department of labor. This earnings data does not distinguish between EMTs and Paramedics- with Paramedics typically being compensated at higher rates than EMTs- and does not factor in built-in overtime.