Jobs · Des Moines, IA

Paramedic Jobs in Des Moines, IA: Pay and Who's Hiring

In Des Moines, the May 2025 median for paramedics is about $62.0K, within 3 percent of the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $47.7K to $63.7K.

Pay

The median is the middle of paramedics already employed, not a starting wage. The 25th is the lower quarter of that group. The 75th is what the upper quarter already earns.

Percentile	Metro	IA	U.S.
25th	$47,740	$52,200	$49,660
Median	$61,980	$60,590	$60,600
75th	$63,700	$65,470	$73,470

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

Hiring difficulty and demand

Hiring difficulty

5.7

Metro employment

190

National growth, 2025 to 2035

5.7%

National openings a year

4.3 thousand

This is the same score as the free check.

Who's hiring

Central Iowa Hospital, 3 campuses
1city of Bayard, 1 campuses
Adair Fire Department, 1 campuses
Baxter Rural Fire & Rescue, 1 campuses
Camp Twp-polk County, 1 campuses
Catholic Health Initiatives-iowa, 1 campuses

Campuses on file in the provider extract, not live job ads.

License and training

Every state licenses or certifies paramedics. Most use the National Registry paramedic exam as part of the path. Confirm your state EMS office's rules before you hire or start.

Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, EMTs and paramedics

The work

You check the truck and its drugs, answer calls, treat the patient, and transport them to the right hospital. Then you write the report and restock before the next call comes in.

Shifts can be 12 or 24 hours long, depending on the service and the county. The work is physical, and some calls stay with you long after the shift ends.

Nearby metros

Ames, IA · 31 miles
Waterloo, IA · 91 miles
Cedar Rapids, IA · 103 miles
Iowa City, IA · 108 miles

Related roles

One manager hiring: Hire a Paramedic in Des Moines.

Paramedics hiring pages

Upload your resume, see your match score, and let local employers find you

Questions

Who hires paramedics in Des Moines?

Ambulance services, fire departments, and hospitals hire paramedics in Des Moines. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Central Iowa Hospital, 1city of Bayard, Adair Fire Department.

How do I get licensed as a paramedic in Iowa?

Start with the Iowa EMS office. Most states use the National Registry exam as part of the path.

What should an ambulance service in Des Moines weigh when hiring?

Ask about lead experience and shift fit. Des Moines has about a third fewer of these workers than a typical metro. This metro is within 3 percent of the Iowa median.