Well here in Colorado they leave it up to the individual departments. I have'nt heard of anyone pissing hot and keeping their jobs. Even if you have a medical card its still looked down upon.
The best way is to call around and give your resume. A lot of places dont need to post ads online because of this. As far as pay, for a basic it wont stretch much beyond minimum wage.
Other than the CE credits, continuous eduction in a field where there is abundant red tape and a ever evolving treatment plan is almost necessary to keep you on your toes.
Dont skip lab days and dont worry about buying an expensive steth for class. I took a small sound recorder and recorded important lecture topics for me to listen to later. Helped me with studying for my NREMT exam.