El Diario
New York paramedics responded to more than 1,630,446 medical emergencies in 2024
By Jennifer Aguiluz | Sep 10 2025, 06:00 AM EDT
When New Yorkers dial 911 in their most desperate moments, an FDNY Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is the first to arrive. These professionals are the city’s first line of defense, responding to heart attacks, shootings, overdoses, and traumatic accidents. Yet, despite their vital role, they remain among the lowest-paid first responders in New York City.
The starting salary for an FDNY EMT is less than $40,000 and is not enough to survive in one of the most expensive cities in the world. Many are forced to take on additional jobs. In comparison, firefighters and police officers earn much more, even though EMTs handle 86 percent of all FDNY emergencies.
New York City paramedics responded to more than 1,630,446 medical emergencies in 2024, a 15.4% increase compared to the number of medical emergencies during the peak of the COVID outbreak in 2020.
This disparity is both unfair and dangerously unsustainable. The lack of a livable wage leads to high turnover, which means fewer experienced EMTs on the streets. New Yorkers deserve a system where those who care for them in emergencies do not have to struggle to survive.
Seventy percent of emergency personnel are expected to resign in the next five years. City leaders make promises they have no intention of keeping to our workforce, which is majority female and made up largely of minorities.
Respect for FDNY EMTs must go beyond applause or false promises from the mayor of New York City. They need fair pay that reflects their training, sacrifice and the essential service they provide. New York cannot afford to underestimate those who keep us alive.
Now is the time to make FDNY EMS a central part of the strategic planning and budgeting of one of the best fire departments in the world. The dedicated women and men of EMS deserve better.