WHEELING — Ohio County’s paid paramedics want pay parity with the county’s deputies.

Anthony McDaniel of the Ohio County Professional Paramedics Association addressed county commissioners Tuesday morning. He pointed out that since the county began offering emergency services six years ago, their rate of pay increase has averaged just 0.89% annually.

The Ohio County paramedics are members of the International Association of Fire Fighters AFL-CIO as the Ohio County Professional EMS Association Local 5405.

“We wouldn’t be a responsible union if we weren’t advocating for our personnel in 2026,” he told commissioners.

McDaniel reported that Ohio County paramedics presently earn $25.50 an hour, while deputies are paid $27.58. He added that some deputies with additional certification can earn up to $29.46 an hour.

“One of the things we would like to ask is that the commissioners consider bringing us up to parity with the sheriff’s office on the wages,” he said.

McDaniel noted the paramedics “started off with some pretty good wages” when the unit was formed at the start of 2020.

“But in the year 2020, we didn’t see any wage increases,” he said. “In 2021, we were at about a 2% increase with the rest of the employees.

“In 2022, we did not receive a wage increase, and the EMS (emergency management services) and EMA (the Ohio County Emergency Management Agency) were the only departments that didn’t receive a wage increase in 2022.”

In 2023, the paramedics received a 2% raise, followed by no wage increases in 2024, McDaniel continued. In 2025, paramedics’ pay rose 1.36%.

“And we are unaware of any plan for a wage increase in 2026,” he said. “When you average this out, we’ve received an increase of 0.89% per year for wage increases.”

The typical average for EMS workers is about 3-5% annually, according to McDaniel.

He then compared the paramedic pay to what is received by Ohio County’s deputies.

“Let me be the first to tell you. These gentlemen deserve every bit of that and probably more,” McDaniel said. “They are the best law enforcement officers I’ve worked with in 20 years of EMS are right here in Ohio County.

“But our paramedics deserve higher wages, as well.”

In the past, there was pay discrepancy between the paramedics and deputies with the deputies earning more, but that has since been addressed by commissioners, he continued.

“We definitely look forward to providing service in 2026 at Ohio County EMS,” McDaniel said. “After six years, we’re happy to be here. And the members of the community can be assured that members of (Local) 5405 –our guys and girls — are responding to calls.”