PITTSBURGH 鈥� After more than a year of negotiations, Pittsburgh paramedics and city officials have reached an agreement.
Pittsburgh EMS Chief Amera Gilchrist and Paramedic Union President Jonathan Atkinson shared the details making Pittsburgh paramedics and EMTs the highest paid in the region, reported.
The pay increase is retroactive to January 1.
鈥淚n 2024, we鈥檙e getting a 6% raise, followed by 2% in 2025, 3% in 2026, and 4% in 2027, 鈥淎tkinson said. 鈥淏y 2027, the highest-paid Pittsburgh paramedic will have a base salary of around $101,000, which is unprecedented in this area.鈥�
The contract introduces part-time EMT positions, pairs EMTs with paramedics in certain situations, provides opportunities for EMTs to advance to paramedic roles while working and offers a higher starting salary for those transitioning to the city from other EMT positions, according to Action News 4.
鈥淲e wanted to make sure that our paramedics are paid for what they鈥檙e worth for the work that they do every single day,鈥� Gilchrist said. 鈥淲e also wanted to make sure that EMS administration had the ability to be able to keep our trucks staffed.鈥�
Atkinson and Gilchrist confirmed that the agreement includes a provision stating that if paramedics file a lawsuit to eliminate the residency requirement, the city will not oppose the change, Action News 4 reported.
