Gold Five

I am close to finishing up my EMT class and hope to get a job working for an agency like MLSS in the next 6 months or so. I will also begin riding as a volunteer with a VAC after my class is over. I currently work for a department store as a loss prevention supervisor and I hate it. I have been doing LP for 8 years and am beyond done with it. I have been interested in getting involved in EMS for a very long time and one day just woke up and decided to take the class.
I have been doing really well in the class and am really looking forward to begin working on a rig (Even as a volly to start.) If I do well as an EMT for a couple of years, I would like to go for my paramedic cert.
My question is, how many people make a long term career out of EMS? I know MLSS starts out new EMTs at around $11.50 and they work 48 hours a week. My take home pay would not be much less than I make now, so I'm not too worried about the starting pay. Do many people genuinely enjoy working EMS? Most of the stuff I read online talks about how its an awful job and to stay away. I don't know if that's how most EMS workers are or just ones that are jaded (Every profession has them.) I have a genuine interest in EMS, its not something I am doing just because I'll take any job that comes along. I am looking for honest insight on the subject. Thank you in advance to anyone that takes the time to read this and respond.
P.S. when it comes to pay raises in EMS, how much is usually given? I am so used to getting $0.10-$0.15/hr raises in retail that I have no clue how raises work in other professions.