‘People are leaving’: New York City’s EMS workers are struggling to make ends meet
EMS workers, who make life-or-death decisions in emergencies, are the lowest paid first responders
TL;DR
- Oren Barzilay, a retired EMS president, advises young people not to join NYC's EMS due to low pay, earning only $59,000 after 31 years.
- EMS workers are among the lowest-paid first responders, with starting EMT salaries barely above minimum wage, significantly less than firefighters with similar experience.
- Low wages are driving an exodus of EMS workers, leading to a 17.5% drop in active responders statewide between 2019 and 2022.
- Average ambulance response times have increased, with some EMS workers relying on public assistance like food stamps or living in shelters.
- Despite Mayor Mamdani's pro-labor stance, negotiations for better EMS wages are ongoing but have not yet formally commenced, creating tension between his administration and the EMS union.
- Some see the appointment of Lillian Bonsignore, an EMS veteran, as fire commissioner as a positive sign, while others remain skeptical about political promises.
- The core issue for EMS workers is not the job itself, but the inadequate pay that makes it unsustainable.