‘People are leaving’: New York City’s EMS workers are struggling to make ends meet
Summary
New York City’s emergency medical service (EMS) workers are facing low pay and difficult working conditions. Many EMS workers earn far less than firefighters despite similar experience, causing some to leave the job, which leads to slower ambulance response times.Key Facts
- Oren Barzilay, who worked 31 years in NYC EMS, retired while earning $59,000 annually.
- EMS workers start at about $39,386 a year, just above the city’s minimum wage.
- After five years, EMS workers can make around $59,534, but firefighters with similar experience make about $105,146.
- More than 4,500 EMS workers handle over 1.9 million emergencies yearly in NYC.
- Many EMS workers struggle financially; some live in shelters or receive aid like food stamps.
- The average ambulance response time increased from 11 minutes 21 seconds in 2025 to 13 minutes 9 seconds in 2026.
- New York State saw a 17.5% drop in active EMS responders from 2019 to 2022.
- Union leaders link low wages to the loss of EMS workers and ongoing staffing problems.
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