While it's true...
that people who want to work as Set Medics would get more work in SoCal than most other locales, there is work out there in other parts of the country for those who look for it.
It's not for everyone, you have to be willing to put aside some of the "Ricky Rescue" attitude and realise that you are a part of a group of people working to increase safety and promote better health on the set. If a Set Medic can help keep the talent or a key crew member working after an injury or illness, they could be saving a producer literally tens of thousands of dollars, the ones I work for know that and they show their appreciation in my day rate.
As for some of the other advise I've read here, there's no "film company lists" that I'm aware of. There is a union, IATSE 767, First Aid Providers. It consists of EMT's, Paramedics, RN's, MD's, Rescue Divers, etc. Union work is the hardest to come by and ironically it doesn't pay as well as what I primarily do which is work on commercial productions. You've have to be willing to start on low or non-existent budget films to make the contacts with producers and production coordinators who do the actual hiring in the industry.
I don't want to sound insensitive or arrogant but $20.00/hour is at the very low end of the pay scale. Of course you have to provide your own equipment but if you're willing to work hard and do a good job, there are people making a 6 figure income working as Set Medics in the film industry. To keep that in perspective, I worked on a car commercial earlier this year for 4 days, the talent budget for that job alone, according to a source in the production company was $2,000,000.00.
Another avenue is event coverage, not as an ambulance attendant standing by, the only people making any money at that are the ones that own the ambulances, but working for the venue and providing first aid for employees and attendees at concerts and similiar events. Starting pay for that is around $20.00 per hour. Again, it's not like working on an ambulance. I'm sure that most folks here look down on event and Set medics, that's fine.
I would also look at things like CPR instructing, health fair screenings. If someone out there has an enterprising streak, start a company providing EMS care for youth sports events. Parents will pay a lot if it means that their kids are safer and are gonna get prompt treatment if there's an accident on the field.
And if all else fails, teach the thousands of new EMTs who think that they're gonna make a career at a job paying minimum wages...
John E.