How to become a paramedic – potential salary

Paramedics often describe their job as the best job in the world – rewarding, varied and their chance to make an impact in their community every day. But no matter how fulfilling our jobs are, we all need to pay the bills, right? So, how much does a paramedic get paid in Australia?

How much is a Paramedic salary in Australia?

Qualified and experienced paramedics can earn over $100,000.

This could include your base salary, bonuses, overtime hours and extra allowances. As the work day of a paramedic can often stretch beyond a typical 8-hour day, overtime, and the chance to earn some extra cash, is common.

The average base salary for a Registered Ambulance Paramedic in Australia is around $71,096 per year, according to Payscale.com. However, your level of training, years of experience and location can all have an impact on your salary. And with demand increasing, and plenty of options to gain specialist skills, there are many ways to increase your salary.

It’s worth noting that paramedic salaries do vary from state-to-state, and as a registered paramedic, you are free to travel interstate and work for any jurisdictional ambulance service.

Paramedic salary by location in Australia

Ambulance Officer / Paramedic salaries

As a graduate paramedic, on average, you could expect to earn:

In New South Wales: $53,000
In Victoria: $61,000
In Queensland: $58,000
In South Australia: $65,000
In Western Australia: $82,000

As a qualified paramedic, depending on your years of experience, you could expect to earn:

In New South Wales: $66,000 – $76,000
In Victoria: $70,000 – $100,000
In Queensland: $68,000 – $85,000
In South Australia: $65,000 – $78,000
In Western Australia: $90,000 – $98,00

With further specialisation as an Advanced Life Support Paramedic, or even an Intensive Care Paramedic, you could expect your overall earnings to increase by a further ~ $10,000 per year. Extremely specialist paramedics like flight/air ambulance paramedics could earn $90,000 – $119,000 on average.

Private sector medic salaries

There is high demand for all kinds of paramedic, medic and pre-hospital healthcare workers in both the public and private sectors.
VET-qualified graduates can get straight into the industry, and be paid well for serving their community with a critical health service.

For example, varying by state and provider, you could expect to earn:

Within Non-Emergency Patient Transport:
- Patient Transport Officer (PTO): $51,000 – $62,000
- Ambulance Transport Attendant (ATA): $51,000 – $80,000
Search & Rescue Medic: $80,000 – $120,000
Emergency Services Officer (ESO): $80,000 – $120,000
Event Medic: $21 – $70 per hour

In the private sector, salaries can vary depending on the company you work for and the scope of practice you are allowed to work within.
For example, a private firm will often pay more than a state position because the job may require you to be off-site, or in a remote location (e.g. in the mining and the resource sector).

Location and industry can make all the difference

It’s common for the paramedic salary to increase by $10,000-$30,000 in larger cities, in comparison to those in smaller regional towns. Paramedics and Emergency Services Officers (ESO) in the mining sector are attracted to the high paying mining positions which can be anywhere from $120,000-$140,000 per year.

What other factors influence paramedic salaries?

There are few other factors that can influence the salary of paramedics. The level of training that you have completed and the amount of on-the-job experience you have can significantly increase your earnings.

For example, state paramedics are required to hold a relevant bachelor’s degree, but coming into the job with relevant experience in healthcare could increase your starting wage. Further study to specialise in intensive care, or advanced life support paramedicine would also see your salary increase.

What’s the difference between a registered Ambulance Paramedic and a diploma-qualified medic?

The difference between a registered Ambulance Paramedic and a diploma-qualified medic is the level of qualification they hold, and therefore the type of care they are allowed to administer to patients.

To become a registered Ambulance Paramedic, you are required to hold a relevant degree, like the Bachelor of Paramedic Science.

However, after the completion of a diploma, such as the HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care, you’ll be qualified to become a Basic/Advanced Life Support medic in the private sector, including Event Medic, Mining Medic, Emergency Medical Technician, Patient Transport Officer and more. There is also the opportunity to become a Paramedic Assistant, although this varies depending on which state you live in.

So by completing a diploma, you are qualified to move into a career in pre-hospital care straight away, and can continue working if you choose to go on to study at university to become an ambulance paramedic.

Extra resources on paramedic salaries

There are loads of resources available to help you compare paramedic salaries in different locations. Here are a few links to some further reading.

What do Paramedics really do?

Paramedics, or pre-hospital emergency healthcare workers as they are sometimes known, are thrust into the call of duty whenever there is an emergency. They are often required to provide life-saving medical treatment on the spot.

Just like fire fighters and police officers, a paramedic’s civic duty is often carried out in challenging and unpredictable conditions.

The role of a paramedic is varied and covers a broad range of skills, such as:

attending accidents, emergencies and requests for medical assistance
assessing the health of patients, determining the need for assistance, and assessing specialised needs and factors affecting the patient’s condition
performing therapies and administering drugs according to accepted protocols and scope of practice
resuscitating and defibrillating patients and operating life-support equipment
transporting patients to and from medical facilities
handing over patients to medical professionals
conducting health checks and screening the public for COVID-19 infection
transporting sick and disabled persons to and from medical facilities for specialised treatment and rehabilitation
instructing community groups and essential service workers in first aid
attending public gatherings and sporting events where accidents and other health emergencies may occur
ensuring that ambulances are adequately maintained and stocked with medical supplies, and essential equipment is in good working order
preparing written reports on the state of patients’ injuries and treatment provided

What does it take to become a Paramedic?

A paramedic will tell you that while the salary is good, it really isn’t the money that drives them to enter the profession. While it is extremely rewarding, it’s very challenging job that takes a lot of heart. Paramedics are often driven by the desire to help people in their hour of need and wanting to contribute to their community, as well as enjoying the diversity that each day on-the-job brings.