About the Department

Provides basic and advanced life support and emergency pre-hospital care and rescue services to persons in medical emergencies or life-threatening disasters and catastrophes.

Department: Public Safety/Bureau of Emergency Medical Services
Salary: $27.45 per hour 1st year. Future salary increases subject to bargaining contract terms. See below for future rate progression opportunities.
Union: This position is included in the Fraternal Association of Professional Paramedics.
Union Bid Form: None required.
Civil Service Classification: Non-Competitive.

RATE PROGRESSION OPPORTUNITIES:

Paramedic Second Year: $29.61/Hour
Paramedic Third Year: $37.76/Hour
Paramedic Fourth Year: $36.03/Hour
Paramedic Fifth Year: $40.51/Hour
Crew Chief: $43.57/Hour

Position Duties

GENERAL APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

You must submit or show proof of all of the following at the time of filing your application (unless otherwise indicated below) or your application will be disqualified. Disqualifications based on any of these General Application Requirements are not subject to a Civil Service appeal.

Applicants must submit a complete application including education, work experience, a resume (if applicable) and completed supplemental questions.
Applicants must become residents of the City of Pittsburgh prior to employment and remain a resident throughout employment. Click here to view a map of City of Pittsburgh neighborhoods.
Applicants must possess a current, valid Certificate of Completion of Emergency Medical Technician – Paramedic (EMT-P) training or a current, valid Prehospital Registered Nurse (PHRN) Certification (from any state or a nationally recognized certificate) at the time of exam.
A current PA Department of Health EMS Vehicle Operator endorsement must be presented at appointment to the position and must be maintained throughout employment.
A current, valid Class C Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Operator's License is required to be presented and verified prior to appointment to the position and must be maintained throughout employment. Written requests for accommodation on the basis of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act will be considered by the Department of Human Resources and Civil Service on an individual basis.

NOTE: The City of Pittsburgh, as a matter of policy, conducts pre-employment and promotional background investigations on all candidates being considered for positions. The background investigation includes, but is not limited to, criminal background, driver's license, and City of Pittsburgh real estate tax payments. Candidates may be disqualified from consideration based on the results of their background investigation (as it relates to the job for which the applicant is being considered).

NOTE: Out-of-state candidates with a valid Class C Motor Vehicle Operator's License from another state must obtain a valid Class C Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Operator's License and present to Human Resources within one week of hire.

NOTE: EMT-P certificate/card or PHRN certification must be presented at the time of the Physical Agility Test.

If you do not possess a PA Certificate of Completion of EMT-P training, the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) and the Center for Emergency Medicine (CEM) offer training programs. Financial aid may be available to qualified students. For more information:
CCAC (412) 237-2500
CEM (412) 647-5300
If you are not a resident of Pennsylvania, but hold a Paramedic Certificate from another state, you may obtain information about acquiring a PA Certificate of Completion of EMT-P by contacting the Emergency Medical Service Institute (EMSI), at (412) 242-7322.

QUALIFYING REQUIREMENTS:

Your City of Pittsburgh application will be reviewed and your work experience and education/training will be evaluated to determine if you meet the qualifying eligibility requirements listed below for this position. You will be sent an eligibility letter regarding your eligible/ineligible status.

WORK EXPERIENCE: None required for this position.
EDUCATION/TRAINING: See General Application Requirements listed above.
EQUIVALENCY: None permitted for this position. Therefore, no education/training and/or work experience may be substituted toward the qualifying requirements listed above.

Minimum Qualifications

If you meet the qualifying requirements listed above, you will be sent a letter of admission (when applicable) for the following examination(s). You must pass the written and/or performance examination(s) in order to have your name placed on the official Civil Service eligibility list for this position. Candidates who receive job offers must pass a medical examination (when applicable) prior to start date.

Written: None required for this position.
Performance: Based on the knowledge/abilities listed in the Position Description section of this announcement. The exam date is tentatively scheduled for September 24, 2026. An optional pre-test training will tentatively be held on September 17, 2026.
- NOTE: The Civil Service Examination Events can be viewed below.

Medical: Required.

Other Qualifications

Drives or accompanies driver in emergency medical vehicle to site of emergency as informed by dispatcher or supervisor.
Helps extricate victims from entrapment or hazardous environments.
Provides rescue, basic and advanced life support or other emergency medical care as needed.
Maintains radio or other contact as necessary with Public Safety Dispatch, EMS Command Staff, EMS Physician, receiving hospital, and other agencies as necessary. Follows the EMS Physician's instructions on medical treatment.
Accompanies victims to hospital as driver and/or provides continued pre-hospital care to patients in the emergency medical vehicle.
Makes complete report to physician of incident and treatment administered.
Files complete reports (e.g., patient care reports, insurance forms, etc.) on each case on a timely fashion by manual and automated methods.
Works all shifts, weekends and holidays.
Maintains adequate stock of equipment and supplies; washes and disinfects medical equipment; washes and cleans emergency medical vehicles.
Performs vehicle/equipment checks as required.
Performs activities and functions of other personnel as assigned or required.
Performs such other related tasks and duties that are assigned or required.

If you would like to be assigned a mentor from the Pittsburgh EMS Recruitment team during your application process, please contact District Chief James Dlutowski at: [email protected] or Division Chief Mark Pinchalk at: [email protected].
Or you can complete our Career Interest Form and a member of the EMS outreach team will contact you.

Benefits

Full-time City employees receive a comprehensive benefit package including:

Health, Dental and Vision Benefits
Pension
Voluntary Deferred Compensation Plan
Tuition Reimbursement
Paid Holidays
Paid Vacation
Personal Days

(Benefits may be modified based on collective bargaining unit terms.)

Supplemental Questions

Do you hold a valid Nationally Recognized Certificate of Completion of Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic Training (NREMT-P)?

NOTE: you must possess either a Pennsylvania or nationally recognized EMT-P certification card to apply for this position. If you do not have this certification at time of completing your online employment application, your application will be disqualified.

Did you remember to attach your complete resume with this application?

The City of Pittsburgh welcomes all applicants, including those who would need to relocate to satisfy the Residency Requirement prior to starting this position. Please elaborate on your plans to relocate to Pittsburgh if you do not already live within the City of Pittsburgh municipality.

If you already reside within the City of Pittsburgh, please write N/A.

Do you have a current, valid Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Operator's License (Class C - regular) or a current valid driver's license from another state or the U.S. Armed Forces?

If you do not possess a current, valid PA Class C Driver's License: Are you able to obtain one prior to appointment if you are selected to fill this position?

N/A- I already possess the required driver's license.
YES, I AM able to obtain a PA Class C Driver's License prior to appointment if I am selected to fill this position.
NO, I am NOT able to obtain a PA Class C Driver's License prior to appointment if I am selected to fill this position.

Required Question

Agency Information

Employer: City of Pittsburgh
Address: 414 Grant Street

Room 431

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15219
Phone: 412-255-2710
Website: http://www.pghjobs.net

Paramedic

Job description