Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics

Assess injuries, administer emergency medical care, and extricate trapped individuals. Transport injured or sick persons to medical facilities.

Median Annual Wage: $31,700

Education: Post-secondary certificate (43%); Some college, no degree (30%); Associate's degree (12%)

Projected Growth: Much faster than average (22% or higher)

Related Job Titles: Emergency Medical Technician (EMT); Paramedic; EMT/Dispatcher (Emergency Medical Technician/Dispatcher); First Responder; Flight Paramedic; Emergency Medical Technician, Basic (EMT, B); EMT Intermediate (Emergency Medical Technician, Intermediate); EMT, Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic); Emergency Medical Technician/Driver (EMT/DRIVER); Multi Care Technician (Multi Care Tech)

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Source: O*NET OnLine information for Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics.

More Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Careers

  • Operate equipment, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), external defibrillators, or bag valve mask resuscitators, in advanced life support environments.
  • Perform emergency diagnostic and treatment procedures, such as stomach suction, airway management, or heart monitoring, during ambulance ride.
  • Observe, record, and report to physician the patient's condition or injury, the treatment provided, and reactions to drugs or treatment.
  • Assess nature and extent of illness or injury to establish and prioritize medical procedures.
  • Drive mobile intensive care unit to specified location, following instructions from emergency medical dispatcher.
  • Decontaminate ambulance interior following treatment of patient with infectious disease and report case to proper authorities.
  • Administer drugs, orally or by injection, or perform intravenous procedures under a physician's direction.
  • Immobilize patient for placement on stretcher and ambulance transport, using backboard or other spinal immobilization device.
  • Coordinate work with other emergency medical team members or police or fire department personnel.
  • Maintain vehicles and medical and communication equipment and replenish first aid equipment and supplies.
  • Communicate with dispatchers or treatment center personnel to provide information about situation, to arrange reception of victims, or to receive instructions for further treatment.
  • Coordinate with treatment center personnel to obtain patients' vital statistics and medical history, to determine the circumstances of the emergency, and to administer emergency treatment.
  • Comfort and reassure patients.
  • Attend training classes to maintain certification licensure, keep abreast of new developments in the field, or maintain existing knowledge.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics.

  • Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
  • Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics.

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