Pay raises coming for Wake County EMS workers
Wake EMS workers will soon become the highest paid in the state. Hundreds of staffers will see a raise in their paychecks as soon as April.
Chris Colangelo, the EMS director for Wake County, sent a message to staff on Monday that the county wants to be an attractive employer, and raises will apply to more than 80 percent of EMS workers.
Colangelo said the county's EMS is competing with other health care providers in the area including urgent care centers, emergency rooms and even dental offices.
Wake's pay raise will go into effect in April — impacting more than 320 and costing the county over $7 million.
Currently, EMTs make a minimum of $17.33 an hour — that'll increase to $20 an hour. Paramedics' earnings will increase from a minimum of $24.91 an hour to $28.13 and shift commanders will go from a minimum of $34.82 an hour to $37.43.
"There are these other things employers can offer that we can't because we have to provide 24 hours a day, seven days a week service. We have to compensate that through direct compensation," said Colangelo.
Colangelo said Wake County EMS is also working to improve schedules with workers always on the clock year-round. But the goal is to become a competitive employer and not just attract new talent but keep the staff they already have.
