What Does it Take to Be an Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic?
Position Description Assess injuries, administer emergency medical care, and extricate trapped individuals. Transport injured or sick persons to medical facilities.
Life As an EMT or Paramedic: What Do They Do?
- Communicate with dispatchers or treatment center personnel to provide information about situation, to arrange reception of victims, or to receive instructions for further treatment.
- Assess nature and extent of illness or injury to establish and prioritize medical procedures.
- 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.
- Drive mobile intensive care unit to specified location, following instructions from emergency medical dispatcher.
- Perform emergency diagnostic and treatment procedures, such as stomach suction, airway management, or heart monitoring, during ambulance ride.
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EMT or Paramedic Needed Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics say are important on the job.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
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.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Other EMT or Paramedic Job Titles
- EMT Intermediate (Emergency Medical Technician, Intermediate)
- Medical Technician
- EMT-I/99
- Flight Paramedic
- Full-time Paramedic
Job Demand for Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 248,000 jobs in the United States for Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 15.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 37,400 new jobs for Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic by 2026. The BLS estimates 19,400 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for EMT or Paramedic are Colorado, Arizona, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, Mississippi, or Wisconsin. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of an EMT or Paramedic
Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics make between $22,760 and $58,640 a year.
Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics who work in Washington, District of Columbia, or Hawaii, make the highest salaries.
How much do Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $30,260 |
| Alaska | $47,780 |
| Arizona | $38,260 |
| Arkansas | $31,800 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $42,320 |
| Connecticut | $46,890 |
| Delaware | $40,730 |
| District of Columbia | $57,270 |
| Florida | $35,790 |
| Georgia | $33,950 |
| Hawaii | $54,370 |
| Idaho | $37,960 |
| Illinois | $41,940 |
| Indiana | $34,040 |
| Iowa | $35,760 |
| Kansas | $30,520 |
| Kentucky | $31,430 |
| Louisiana | $36,930 |
| Maine | $34,170 |
| Maryland | $49,490 |
| Massachusetts | $41,570 |
| Michigan | $33,720 |
| Minnesota | $42,460 |
| Mississippi | $33,310 |
| Missouri | $34,560 |
| Montana | $33,020 |
| Nebraska | $33,130 |
| Nevada | $36,240 |
| New Hampshire | $38,390 |
| New Jersey | $37,460 |
| New Mexico | $35,660 |
| New York | $44,120 |
| North Carolina | $36,200 |
| North Dakota | $32,680 |
| Ohio | $32,200 |
| Oklahoma | $33,020 |
| Oregon | $42,470 |
| Pennsylvania | $33,980 |
| Rhode Island | $40,070 |
| South Carolina | $34,570 |
| South Dakota | $32,360 |
| Tennessee | $36,600 |
| Texas | $36,620 |
| Utah | $33,870 |
| Vermont | $34,290 |
| Virginia | $35,310 |
| Washington | $67,600 |
| West Virginia | $30,690 |
| Wisconsin | $34,780 |
| Wyoming | $34,120 |
What Tools do Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft operating system
Becoming an EMT or Paramedic
Individuals working as an Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic have obtained the following education levels:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Who Employs Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics?
The table below shows the approximate number of Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics employed by various industries.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming an Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic might also be interested in the following careers:
Career changers with experience as an Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
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