EMTs and Paramedics offer life-saving services in emergency situations. These individuals are often the first to the scene of an accident, and they are one of the heroes of the healthcare industry. EMTs and Paramedics typically respond to 911 or emergency calls, and they work alongside firefighters and police officers.
In this article (and video), you’ll learn about EMT or Paramedic job duties, education requirements, likes and dislikes of this profession, and detailed salary information.
EMT or Paramedic Job Duties
EMTs or paramedics typically do the following tasks on the job:
- Quickly respond to emergency (or 911) calls so that they can offer emergency assistance such as CPR or wound bandaging.
- Perform an assessment of a patient’s condition and determine the course of action to take.
- Use restraints, stretchers, and other devices to safely transport patients during ambulance rides.
- Complete patient reports following an incident.
- Transport patients to proper emergency treatment facilities for further care.
- Restock supplies and clean or decontaminate equipment after transport.
EMT or Paramedic Education Requirements
Individuals aspiring to become an EMT or paramedic must first have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. CPR certification is also important, and that may be included in official training programs.
There are different levels of EMTs, and states will call them different titles. For example, some states call a basic EMT an “EMT-Basic.” These individuals perform basic care such as CPR, patient assessment, wound bandaging, etc.
The next level is often referred to as an EMT-Intermediate or Advanced EMT. These individuals can sometimes administer injections or even start IV lines.
Then you have the EMT Paramedic, or simply a “Paramedic.” These individuals have more rigorous training, and they can usually administer medications, start IVs, and even interpret EKGs.
States vary on the specific education or training requirements, but generally speaking, you must do the following:
- To become an EMT-Basic, it takes about 6-12 months of training. This is usually done through a technical school or community college. Individuals are usually awarded a diploma or certificate. It takes a total of 150 hours of instruction in most states to complete the training.
- To become an Advanced EMT, it takes 12-24 months of instruction. The total number of hours of instruction can be up to 300.
- To become a EMT-Paramedic, it usually requires a 24-month (2 year) associate’s degree and 1200-1800 hours of instruction. Unlike the other two programs, an actual degree is awarded after this training.
In addition, all states require licensure and the passing of a national examination. You can also obtain certification through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT).
What Do EMTs or Paramedics Like or Dislike about their Job?
EMTs generally like the following:
- There are often overtime opportunities available, which can lead to a higher income.
- Some love the 12-hour shifts that are available in some industries. This allows them to work fewer days per week.
- The biggest satisfaction is that they know they save lives!
EMTs generally dislike the following:
- There is a lot of variation for each shift. Some shifts may be boring with nothing happening. Other shifts may highly erratic, with many emergency calls and high-stress situations.
- It can be stressful dealing with emergency situations. Some patients may be severely wounded, and that can be very difficult to observe.
- Some dislike the amount of paperwork or documenting involved.
- There is also a risk of danger when dealing with blood-borne pathogens in emergency situations.
EMT and Paramedic Salary Information
How much money does an EMT or paramedic earn? What’s their average hourly wage or salary? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2014, EMTs and Paramedics earned an average hourly wage of $16.88, and an average salary of $35,110 per year.
There were 235,760 EMTs or Paramedics employed in the U.S. in 2014, and the BLS projected a 23% growth rate in this profession between years 2012-2022. Additional jobs and salary statistics can be found below:
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment | Employment RSE | Mean hourly wage | Mean annual wage | Wage RSE |
| 235,760 | 1.4 % | $16.88 | $35,110 | 0.7 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
| Hourly Wage | $9.95 | $12.10 | $15.24 | $20.09 | $26.29 |
| Annual Wage | $20,690 | $25,170 | $31,700 | $41,780 | $54,690 |
Industries with the Highest Levels of Employment for EMTs
| Industry | Employment | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | 116,690 | 41.99 | $15.51 | $32,270 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 65,470 | 1.23 | $18.76 | $39,010 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 38,800 | 0.74 | $17.35 | $36,100 |
| Other Support Services | 2,470 | 0.83 | $17.73 | $36,870 |
| Offices of Physicians | 1,450 | 0.06 | $18.28 | $38,030 |
Top Paying Industries for EMTs or Paramedics
| Industry | Employment | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| State Government (OES Designation) | 1,240 | 0.06 | $26.35 | $54,800 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | n/a | n/a | $25.15 | $52,320 |
| Junior Colleges | 60 | 0.01 | $23.86 | $49,620 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 370 | 0.01 | $20.17 | $41,950 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 40 | 0.04 | $19.58 | $40,720 |
Top Paying States for EMTs and Paramedics:
| State | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Washington | 2,880 | 1.00 | 0.57 | $27.81 | $57,850 |
| District of Columbia | 1,220 | 1.81 | 1.04 | $27.11 | $56,390 |
| Hawaii | 690 | 1.13 | 0.65 | $23.55 | $48,970 |
| Illinois | 11,670 | 2.02 | 1.16 | $22.87 | $47,580 |
| Alaska | 430 | 1.34 | 0.77 | $22.32 | $46,430 |
Lowest Paying States for EMTs or Paramedics:
| West Virginia | 13.15 | 27,350 |
| South Dakota | 13.72 | 28,550 |
| Wisconsin | 13.89 | 28,900 |
Average EMT or Paramedic Salary by State:
| State | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage | Annual median wage |
| Alabama | $14.26 | $29,670.00 | $25,990.00 |
| Alaska | $22.32 | $46,430.00 | $47,770.00 |
| Arizona | $16.94 | $35,240.00 | $31,040.00 |
| Arkansas | $14.48 | $30,130.00 | $27,010.00 |
| California | $17.17 | $35,720.00 | $29,800.00 |
| Colorado | $18.84 | $39,180.00 | $35,350.00 |
| Connecticut | $20.38 | $42,390.00 | $40,660.00 |
| Delaware | $17.77 | $36,960.00 | $34,630.00 |
| District of Columbia | $27.11 | $56,390.00 | $54,140.00 |
| Florida | $15.46 | $32,150.00 | $30,370.00 |
| Georgia | $15.24 | $31,690.00 | $29,540.00 |
| Hawaii | $23.55 | $48,970.00 | $48,650.00 |
| Idaho | $15.19 | $31,600.00 | $30,390.00 |
| Illinois | $22.87 | $47,580.00 | $40,400.00 |
| Indiana | $14.83 | $30,850.00 | $29,180.00 |
| Iowa | $16.04 | $33,370.00 | $31,380.00 |
| Kansas | $14.09 | $29,310.00 | $26,440.00 |
| Kentucky | $14.13 | $29,390.00 | $27,770.00 |
| Louisiana | $17.24 | $35,850.00 | $35,370.00 |
| Maine | $15.69 | $32,630.00 | $31,620.00 |
| Maryland | $19.02 | $39,550.00 | $37,280.00 |
| Massachusetts | $19.18 | $39,890.00 | $37,900.00 |
| Michigan | $15.01 | $31,220.00 | $30,220.00 |
| Minnesota | $18.80 | $39,110.00 | $36,270.00 |
| Mississippi | $15.48 | $32,210.00 | $30,150.00 |
| Missouri | $16.11 | $33,520.00 | $30,870.00 |
| Montana | $14.23 | $29,590.00 | $28,080.00 |
| Nebraska | $15.63 | $32,520.00 | $32,000.00 |
| Nevada | $21.10 | $43,890.00 | $40,390.00 |
| New Hampshire | $17.33 | $36,040.00 | $36,290.00 |
| New Jersey | $16.99 | $35,340.00 | $30,630.00 |
| New Mexico | $16.80 | $34,950.00 | $33,740.00 |
| New York | $19.13 | $39,780.00 | $37,300.00 |
| North Carolina | $15.69 | $32,630.00 | $31,870.00 |
| North Dakota | $14.01 | $29,130.00 | $27,750.00 |
| Ohio | $14.74 | $30,660.00 | $28,310.00 |
| Oklahoma | $14.59 | $30,340.00 | $28,920.00 |
| Oregon | $18.25 | $37,960.00 | $35,930.00 |
| Pennsylvania | $15.32 | $31,870.00 | $29,900.00 |
| Puerto Rico | $9.87 | $20,540.00 | $19,100.00 |
| Rhode Island | $19.85 | $41,280.00 | $38,540.00 |
| South Carolina | $15.08 | $31,370.00 | $29,740.00 |
| South Dakota | $13.72 | $28,550.00 | $27,810.00 |
| Tennessee | $15.85 | $32,970.00 | $30,120.00 |
| Texas | $16.84 | $35,020.00 | $33,170.00 |
| Utah | $16.48 | $34,270.00 | $31,850.00 |
| Vermont | $14.79 | $30,770.00 | $30,450.00 |
| Virginia | $15.46 | $32,150.00 | $30,640.00 |
| Washington | $27.81 | $57,850.00 | $50,260.00 |
| West Virginia | $13.15 | $27,350.00 | $24,570.00 |
| Wisconsin | $13.89 | $28,900.00 | $27,080.00 |
| Wyoming | $15.63 | $32,500.00 | $32,610.00 |
References:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, EMTs and Paramedics, on the Internet at bls.gov.