Paramedics work long, hard hours, and get paid commensurately. In addition to base salaries that are very reasonable, paramedics also usually have access to a variety of additional payments and options that can bolster their income. It’s not uncommon for a paramedic’s pay-sheet to extend to a second page to keep track of all their extra allowances!
Paramedics are also usually very well looked after in terms of superannuation and retirement benefits. With the strength of medical unions behind them – paramedics often have their own unions that are affiliated with other health professionals like nurses – and employers who want to attract and retain skilled employees – paramedics have a lot of collective bargaining power.
Unlike many other industries where the idea of ‘seniority’ is less relevant, having experienced paramedics makes the entire profession run more smoothly. Much like in policing, it makes sense to spread inexperienced paramedics around with more experienced staff so that a mentoring process can go on. Organic, on-the-job learning is recognised as being intensely valuable.
While this is not often specifically compensated, most employers pay their paramedics on an incremental basis, even within classifications. So a paramedic straight out of medical school will get paid a base salary – which is normally quite comfortable – and then for each year of service you’ll usually get a small increment, around $500-1,000 per year up to a certain limit.
Increments normally cary weight only within their pay scale, so if you get promoted you start again at the bottom ‘rung’ of the career ladder. The pay increases are basically designed to compensate you for your presumed experience and natural leadership.
Human Resources will be able to give you more information on your specific circumstance. Generally your best option is to ‘salary sacrifice’, or equivalent. Salary sacrifice is where a portion of your pay is taken out of your pay packet and put towards some other expense directly.
This means that it isn’t declarable as income on your tax return, and you’re paying for something out of pre-tax income, which can mean that you’re getting an effective increase of 30-45% when compared to paying expenses from post-tax income.
Commonly you can salary sacrifice into mortgage payments, car loans and superannuation, all of which will benefit massively from the compounding effect of having additional money put into them (and at no cost to yourself, as well!)
Tax-deductible expenses are common within the EMT industry. Professional development is nearly always tax-deductible, especially when it relates to a job that you’re currently working in. Make sure you keep your receipts.
Generally uniforms and equipment are provided by your employer, meaning you can’t claim deductions relating to their cost as they’re either reimbursed or provided directly. However most tax jurisdictions will let you claim the cost of laundering your uniform, something which you’ll need to do regularly whenever you’re on active duty. You don’t need to make note of it every time, but knowing the pattern of when you launder your clothes will help you work things out come tax time.
Obviously if you’re working overtime or long shifts your employers will be required to feed you in some manner. This is normally done by paying a meal allowance. Most taxation administrators will let you claim the cost of your meal allowance back against having to declare it as income, meaning it’s cost-neutral.
If you like a decent bite to eat or are on a diet where your meal expenses outweigh your income from the allowance, a simple journal entry will usually be all that you need to make a claim. It’s worth checking in with your union or local tax office for suggestions about how to do this to meet their standards of bookkeeping requirements.
The most common payment allowances include overtime and meal allowance, additional duty allowances for in-field teaching and specialised paramedicine roles, training allowances, remote operation allowances, dangerous environment allowances and shift penalty rates.
Many allowances have a combined, multiplying effect. For example, if you’re working in a remote environment and are asked to pull a double shift, then your employers are obliged to pay penalty shift rates after a certain amount of hours worked past your standard hours.
If you’re working overnight or on public holidays, it’s not uncommon for your salary to jump form ~$30-45/h to $150-200/h, in addition to meal allowances etc.
Talking with currently serving paramedics to get a better idea of what to expect – it may surprise you!
Paramedics are also usually very well looked after in terms of superannuation and retirement benefits. With the strength of medical unions behind them – paramedics often have their own unions that are affiliated with other health professionals like nurses – and employers who want to attract and retain skilled employees – paramedics have a lot of collective bargaining power.
Paramedics and incremental pay
Paramedics work hard and train constantly. The best paramedics are nearly always improvin their knowledge in one way or another, whether it’s further specialising their skills in a technical manner or moving towards management or administrative positions, paramedics are smart and motivated.Unlike many other industries where the idea of ‘seniority’ is less relevant, having experienced paramedics makes the entire profession run more smoothly. Much like in policing, it makes sense to spread inexperienced paramedics around with more experienced staff so that a mentoring process can go on. Organic, on-the-job learning is recognised as being intensely valuable.
While this is not often specifically compensated, most employers pay their paramedics on an incremental basis, even within classifications. So a paramedic straight out of medical school will get paid a base salary – which is normally quite comfortable – and then for each year of service you’ll usually get a small increment, around $500-1,000 per year up to a certain limit.
Increments normally cary weight only within their pay scale, so if you get promoted you start again at the bottom ‘rung’ of the career ladder. The pay increases are basically designed to compensate you for your presumed experience and natural leadership.
Paramedic Salary And Taxation
Paramedics normally have access to a wide range of salary sacrifice options, which let you take your income in a more tax-friendly manner. Obviously taxation arrangements vary from country to country, but health workers have some of the most flexible options in most countries.Human Resources will be able to give you more information on your specific circumstance. Generally your best option is to ‘salary sacrifice’, or equivalent. Salary sacrifice is where a portion of your pay is taken out of your pay packet and put towards some other expense directly.
This means that it isn’t declarable as income on your tax return, and you’re paying for something out of pre-tax income, which can mean that you’re getting an effective increase of 30-45% when compared to paying expenses from post-tax income.
Commonly you can salary sacrifice into mortgage payments, car loans and superannuation, all of which will benefit massively from the compounding effect of having additional money put into them (and at no cost to yourself, as well!)
Tax-deductible expenses are common within the EMT industry. Professional development is nearly always tax-deductible, especially when it relates to a job that you’re currently working in. Make sure you keep your receipts.
Generally uniforms and equipment are provided by your employer, meaning you can’t claim deductions relating to their cost as they’re either reimbursed or provided directly. However most tax jurisdictions will let you claim the cost of laundering your uniform, something which you’ll need to do regularly whenever you’re on active duty. You don’t need to make note of it every time, but knowing the pattern of when you launder your clothes will help you work things out come tax time.
Obviously if you’re working overtime or long shifts your employers will be required to feed you in some manner. This is normally done by paying a meal allowance. Most taxation administrators will let you claim the cost of your meal allowance back against having to declare it as income, meaning it’s cost-neutral.
If you like a decent bite to eat or are on a diet where your meal expenses outweigh your income from the allowance, a simple journal entry will usually be all that you need to make a claim. It’s worth checking in with your union or local tax office for suggestions about how to do this to meet their standards of bookkeeping requirements.
Paramedic Salary and Allowances
Paramedics have access to a wide range of allowances and additional payments. They vary according to which industrial award that you’re employed under.The most common payment allowances include overtime and meal allowance, additional duty allowances for in-field teaching and specialised paramedicine roles, training allowances, remote operation allowances, dangerous environment allowances and shift penalty rates.
Many allowances have a combined, multiplying effect. For example, if you’re working in a remote environment and are asked to pull a double shift, then your employers are obliged to pay penalty shift rates after a certain amount of hours worked past your standard hours.
If you’re working overnight or on public holidays, it’s not uncommon for your salary to jump form ~$30-45/h to $150-200/h, in addition to meal allowances etc.
Talking with currently serving paramedics to get a better idea of what to expect – it may surprise you!