Employment with the Division of Emergency Medical Services
Prospective Employee,
Thank you for your interest in Sussex County EMS. If you’re a compassionate, motivated paramedic looking to join a progressive, employee-focused 9-1-1 EMS system, we’d love to hear from you.
Sussex County EMS offers competitive pay with experience and education incentives, opportunities for career advancement, comprehensive benefits, and a 24/72 schedule. Employees enjoy generous health, dental, vision, life insurance, tuition assistance, a 25-year retirement program, and department-provided uniforms, equipment, and continuing education.
Beyond the job, Sussex County offers an exceptional quality of life with beautiful beaches, outdoor recreation, affordable living, low property taxes, and no state sales tax.
We encourage prospective applicants to experience our system firsthand by scheduling a ride-along with one of our paramedic units. We look forward to welcoming dedicated professionals who are committed to clinical excellence, teamwork, and serving the residents and visitors of Sussex County.
Come for the Medicine. Stay for the Career.
Caring People. Quality Service.
Those four words aren’t just our motto. They are the expectation.
We want people who are genuinely invested in caring for those who live in, work in, and visit Sussex County. Clinical ability matters, but so does how you treat a frightened patient, speak to a family, work with our public safety partners, and support the person sitting beside you at the station.
If you believe in Caring People, Quality Service, you can build something special here.
This Isn’t Traditional EMS
Sussex County EMS is a county-based, third-service, 911 ALS intercept system. Our paramedics don’t staff transport ambulances—we respond alongside local fire and BLS agencies to bring advanced care to the patients who need it.
That means you come here to practice paramedicine. Our system handles approximately 34,000 ALS responses each year across nearly 1,000 square miles, serving a population that can exceed one million during the summer.
You’ll care for critically ill and injured patients, work alongside an incredible network of public safety and healthcare partners, and even have opportunities to continue patient care aboard Delaware State Police aviation assets during aeromedical transport.
EMS has a well-documented retention problem. Industry data have reported annual turnover of approximately 27% for full-time paramedics and 36% for full-time EMTs. Sussex County EMS’s annual attrition is approximately 9%.
We’re proud of that because our goal isn’t simply to hire people. We want people to come here, grow here and stay here.
More Than the Street
Being a great field paramedic can be an entire career here—but it doesn’t have to be.
Specialty teams, education, simulation, field training, advanced certifications and leadership provide opportunities to find what interests you beyond day-to-day operations. Our career ladder extends from Paramedic Candidate through advanced field roles, FTO, supervision, coordination, management and executive leadership.
Find what you’re passionate about. We’ll give you opportunities to grow it.
What’s the Catch?
The standards are high. The medicine can be challenging. We expect you to train, keep learning, accept feedback, take ownership of your performance, support your team and represent SCEMS professionally.
We expect a lot because the people of Sussex County deserve a lot.
In return, you’ll find a system built around great medicine, professional growth, work-life balance and people who care about what they do.
Explore our opportunities. Learn about our benefits. Come ride with us.
Then come build your career with Sussex County EMS.
Equal Employment Opportunity
In accordance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is the policy of the Sussex County Department of Public Safety to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or political or religious affiliations. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and fostering a workplace that values diversity, inclusion, and respect for all employees.