Starting a new job at the bottom of the salary scale

[DrParasite]

So I'm looking to possibly leaving the gloroius state of NJ for another system on the east coast, possibly with a FD or county based EMS system (currently looking at NC and VA).

The problem I'm having (as well as going to another system in NJ), anytime I start a new job, or look to start a new job, I start at the bottom of the pay scale. So I am going to leave my 20/hr job (just got a raise, yay!!!), and relocate to NC making 12/hr (for example), where the cost of living is lower, but I still have bills from the north east.

Does anyone know of any municiple or county government based system that are looking ot hire EMTs, and not start them at the bottom?

I have 9 years of 911 work experience in two urban cities, and am looking at not starting at the bottom of the pay scale (makes it hard to relocate and take a pay cut at the same time)

 

[mycrofft]

Don't volunteer for minimum wage. Don't volunteer at all! Experience and a nice letter of recommendation ought to get you better pay. Say that you feel that, once probation is passed and they have a better feel for your qualifications, you would hope to be "back up somewhere nearer where I was before" since you have obligations to meet, right? (Riiiiiight….).

If they want to put you on part time, ask how long that will be for.

As I said much earlier, don't work for a horse's arse because eventually they will throw you under the bus.

 

[MMiz]

There comes a point where you stop seeing your career as your dream and instead see it as the source of income that enables you to do what you love doing outside of work.

I don't think you'll find many opportunities that will pay you as much as you're making now.

Living in NC may be cheaper, but it's not hat much cheaper. I wouldn't move here for a job that pays $12 a hour.

 

[mycrofft]

There comes a point where you stop seeing your career as your dream and instead see it as the source of income that enables you to do what you love doing outside of work.

I don't think you'll find many opportunities that will pay you as much as you're making now.

Living in NC may be cheaper, but it's not hat much cheaper. I wouldn't move here for a job that pays $12 a hour.

Yeah, work to live, not live to work.

 

[DrParasite]

well, I don't have the exact numbers yet. the numbers I were given were 12/hr for a person working a 24 hour shift, 16/hr for someone who works a 12 hour shift, and 17/hr for someone who works an 8 hour light duty assignment.

I don't understand it very well, but I think the justification is the shorter the shift the busier you will be, so they busier you are, the more you get paid (I think).

Rumor has it the agency I applied to might give a bonus for experience, but that happens to be the rarity instead of the norm.

 

[CTFDSiman]

If your talking EMT wages defiantly don't move to Ohio. Starting wages here are anywhere from 9-11 bucks an hour.

 

[Tigger]

well, I don't have the exact numbers yet. the numbers I were given were 12/hr for a person working a 24 hour shift, 16/hr for someone who works a 12 hour shift, and 17/hr for someone who works an 8 hour light duty assignment.

I don't understand it very well, but I think the justification is the shorter the shift the busier you will be, so they busier you are, the more you get paid (I think).

Rumor has it the agency I applied to might give a bonus for experience, but that happens to be the rarity instead of the norm.

The other reason for the sliding scale is built in overtime. I work 24s and average 60 hours per week scheduled, so there's 20 hours of built in time and a half. I get paid less than part timers, who aren't supposed to make OT to keep things balanced. I'm still not wild about it, yes I'm not as busy as 12 hour crews but I'm still at work the whole time.

 

[mycrofft]

As a nurse with a two-year-old Baccalaureate and no special experience at the place I hired on at, I started at $20/hr in Calif central valley in 1987 dollars and retired 22 years later with about $43/hr.
Think bigger.

 

[terrible one]

Maybe look at jobs out of the ambulance? Do they employ paramedics at a hospital or clinic? They may pay more then you can work part time on the bus?