What happened: Virginia Beach officials are taking steps to address a pay disparity among EMS professionals, who currently earn 5%-10% less than their counterparts in comparable markets. City leadership, led by Mayor Bobby Dyer, is advocating for wage increases, requesting between $21M-$55M to improve compensation for public safety employees. The move comes as the city seeks to improve retention and recruitment, acknowledging that competitive pay is essential to maintaining a strong workforce.
| More: Va. city finds first responder salaries lag behind neighboring cities
Highlights
Watch as Ed Bauter, MBA, MHL, NRP, FP-C, CCP-C; and Daniel Schwester, MICP, highlight the significance of this development, including:
- Retention vs. recruitment costs. Investing in current employees is far more cost-effective than constantly hiring and training new personnel.
- The role of leadership in pay advocacy. City leaders recognizing EMS professionals as essential workers helped drive this wage adjustment push.
- Competitive pay strengthens the workforce. When EMS professionals earn fair wages, retention improves, and recruitment naturally follows.
The path forward
Virginia Beach鈥檚 initiative highlights the importance of fair compensation in EMS. By addressing wage disparities, the city is not only ensuring the financial well-being of its EMS personnel, but also strengthening public safety services. Other municipalities facing similar retention challenges may look to Virginia Beach鈥檚 approach as a model for prioritizing EMS pay.
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