What Does it Take to Be an Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic?
EMT or Paramedic Example Assess injuries, administer emergency medical care, and extricate trapped individuals. Transport injured or sick persons to medical facilities.
List of EMT or Paramedic Job Duties
- Administer drugs, orally or by injection, or perform intravenous procedures under a physician’s direction.
- Assess nature and extent of illness or injury to establish and prioritize medical procedures.
- Communicate with dispatchers or treatment center personnel to provide information about situation, to arrange reception of victims, or to receive instructions for further treatment.
- Maintain vehicles and medical and communication equipment and replenish first aid equipment and supplies.
- Attend training classes to maintain certification licensure, keep abreast of new developments in the field, or maintain existing knowledge.
- Decontaminate ambulance interior following treatment of patient with infectious disease and report case to proper authorities.
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Things an EMT or Paramedic Should Know How to Do
These are the skills Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Medical Technician
- EMT-I/99
- Healthcare Specialist
- EMT Intermediate (Emergency Medical Technician, Intermediate)
- EMT/Dispatcher (Emergency Medical Technician/Dispatcher)
EMT or Paramedic Job Outlook
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. There will be an estimated 19,400 positions for EMT or Paramedic per year.
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.
Average Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics Salary
The typical yearly salary for Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics is somewhere between $22,760 and $58,640.
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 different U.S. states?
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 & Technology 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
How do I Become an EMT or Paramedic?
What education is needed to be an Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic?
What work experience do I need to become an EMT or Paramedic?
Similar Careers
Those interested in being an Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic may also be interested in:
Those who work as an Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
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More about our data sources and methodologies.