EMT’s and Paramedics Career
If you choose a career as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic, you will find yourself on the front lines of healthcare.
Often times you will be called into homes, or to accident scenes, provide emergency lifesaving care to the sick or injured, and will be transporting them to healthcare facilities.
Almost half of all EMTs and Paramedics are employed directly by ambulance services. The others are employed by government (both state and local) and by hospitals themselves.
EMT’s and Paramedics Career Snapshot
As they deal directly with life threatening situations, the work environment for this career can be a bit stressful and intense. While some of the work will be done indoors or in a hospital setting, that is not always the case. EMTs and Paramedics can find themselves working outdoors, no matter the weather, at all times of the day or night.
Further details on a career as an EMT or paramedica are listed below (statistics from the May 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):
is the average pay for EMT’s and paramedics per year.
increase in employment between 2014 and 2024.
have a Post-Secondary certificate while 30% have some college, but no degree.
EMT & Paramedic Education
As they deal directly with life threatening situations, the work environment for this career can be a bit stressful and intense. While some of the work will be done indoors or in a hospital setting, that is not always the case. EMTs and Paramedics can find themselves working outdoors, no matter the weather, at all times of the day or night.
EMT & Paramedic Job Duties
The duties of an EMT or Paramedic aren’t just responding to emergency calls. Between calls they will be busy performing inventory, restocking supplies, sanitizing equipment, and documenting their work. They may also spend some time providing not emergency transportation of patients between healthcare facilities.
EMT & Paramedic Salaries
Based on reports from the BLS.gov in May 2015, the lowest paid in the career are those that only have a certification and no college; these individuals earned about $20,810 a year. The highest paid in the field were those who were certified and at had an associate’s degree (or higher). They earned about $55,110 a year.
EMT & Paramedic Job Outlook
As the population in the United States is growing older, the need for skilled medical personnel is also increasing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for this job is going to “grow 24 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations.”
EMT’s and Paramedics Skills & Traits
| EMT’s/Paramedics Skill Set: | Required Abilities: | Tools Used by EMT’s/Paramedics: | Typical Work Activities: |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Critical Thinking • Active Listening • Coordination • Speaking • Service Orientation | • Problem Sensitivity • Deductive Reasoning • Inductive Reasoning • Oral Comprehension • Oral Expression | • Airway suction units • Emergency response stretchers • Laryngoscopes • Orthopedic splint systems • Spine boards | • Caring for others • Recording information • Decision making • Working directly with the public • Inspecting equipment |
Related Careers
Firefighters
Postsecondary Certificate
Police & Detectives
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Registered Nurses
Associate’s Degree
