For most people, becoming a Paramedic is not about the money. It’s a life-long career choice, where you get to give back to the community by helping people who need it the most. The reasons for doing the job are more heart-felt than money-driven. Having said that, given the skills, time and effort required to become a paramedic, emergency response workers are rewarded well for the service they provide.
Paramedics are thrust into the call of duty whenever there is an emergency, often tasked with the role of providing life-saving medical treatment on the spot. They are referred to as pre-hospital emergency health care workers, or the term out-of-hospital is also used. Just like fire-fighters and police officers, a paramedic’s civic duty is often carried out in challenging and unpredictable conditions. With a working day spanning more than the traditional 8 hour day, paramedics can often find themselves working extra hours; earning overtime with additional allowances thrown in.
Paramedic salaries vary depending where you live in Australia.
As an example, in Victoria, a first-year advanced life support paramedic has a base rate of $57,000 to $72,000, with an average of A$86,646 per year for more seasoned paramedics.
Queensland paramedics can expect to earn $86,646 per year, plus overtime and additional payments.
A paramedic in the ACT earns $94,787 per year.
A paramedic working for St John Northern Territory could earn about $97,844 per year, whereas an intensive care paramedic can earn $106,750 per year.
| Job Title | Salary / Wage $ | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Paramedic, level 2 | 68,000 – 77,000 | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Patient Transport Officer, Level 1 | 52,000 – 68,000 | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Onsite Medics and Paramedics | $25 – $35 per hour | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Patient Transport Officer | 51,000 – 54,000 | New South Wales |
| Qualified Paramedic | 69,000 – 74,000 | New South Wales |
| Advanced Life Support Paramedic | 79,000 – 84,000 | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Critical Care Paramedic | 88,000 – 91,000 | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Paramedic | 60,000 – 66,000 | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Rescue Paramedic – Rescue Qualified | 100,000 – 110,000 | Western Australia |
| Flight Paramedic | 109,000 | Tasmania |
| Casual First Aider | $25 per hour | Perth, Western Australia |
| Ambulance Paramedic | 89,000 -100,000 | Perth, Western Australia |
There are several factors influencing the salary of Paramedics. This includes the level of training and study required for the position (all newly qualified Paramedics are required to possess a bachelors degree) and/or equally have a lot of experience. The more time on the job and the skills you acquire, will increase your earning capacity.
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 government position because the job may require you to be off-site, or in a remote location (think of mining and the resource sector). Where you live is also a key factor which can influence your salary.
In fact, it’s common for the Paramedic salary to increase by $10,000-$30,000 in larger cities, as opposed to smaller country 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-$140,000per year. It’s possible to work as a medic in the mining and resource sector by working as an Emergency Services Officer (ESO). Find out more about ESO jobs in the mines.
For a Registered Ambulance Paramedic, the average salary is usually around $93,000 per year, with plenty of room for growth as the demand for skilled, experienced and dedicated Paramedics increases. Salaries do vary from State to State, however, as a registered paramedic, you are free to travel interstate and work for any Jurisdictional Ambulance Service. Given the current health crisis in Australia, there are some great opportunities to get into health care.
The role of a Paramedic is varied and covers a broad range of skills such as;
There are many resources to compare Paramedic salaries in different locations. To compare a range of paramedic salaries, here is a collection of links;
As we said earlier, a paramedic will tell you that while the salary is good, it really isn’t the money that drives them to enter the profession. After all, this is a very challenging yet also rewarding job that takes a lot of heart. Paramedics are often driven by the desire to help people in their hour of need, the diversity in each day’s work and contributing to their community.
As a Paramedic, you are a senior health care practitioner who responds to all manner of medical emergencies, so it means you need to have received high-level training and some clinical experience.
To become a registered Paramedic in Australia today, a Bachelor of Paramedic Science degree is required. The HLT50120 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care, (formerly known as HLT51015 – Diploma of Paramedical Science) offers the perfect pathway into university. This Nationally Recognised diploma qualification thoroughly prepares undergraduates to transition into university, making the whole experience more enjoyable and less stressful. Depending on which university you choose, it’s quite common for diploma-qualified applicants to be awarded degree credits of up to 33%.
Before asking yourself how you can become a Paramedic, begin with an entry-level role such as an ambulance driver or a non-emergency patient transport officer. This is a very popular entry-pathway into the sector.
You can also complete a basic ambulance driver/patient transport course such as the HLT31120 – Certificate III in Non-emergency Patient Transport, then move on to the HLT41120 – Certificate IV in Health Care to qualify as a Basic Life Support Medic.
The highest level qualification in the Vocational Education Sector (before going to university) is the HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care, which qualifies graduates to take on more advanced emergency response roles.
After completion of a diploma, such as the HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care, you will 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.
NOTE: To become a Registered Ambulance Paramedic, a Bachelor of Paramedic Science is required; which means 3 years at university, or 5-6 years part time.
To discover how you can become a fully qualified Ambulance Paramedic or Basic/Advanced Life Support Medic, why not complete a personalised paramedical career development plan with us.
It’s easy to do, just tell us about your career goals and aspirations, and together we’ll create a plan that suits your vision for your life.
At APC, you can study online, (we have an app too), then attend clinical workshops to get that realistic hands-on experience.