Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Paying close attention to accuracy, quality, instructions, and small but important details.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Working effectively with people by building relationships, understanding others, and responding appropriately.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become an EMT or Paramedic EMTs and paramedics need to be physically fit as their job requires bending, lifting, and kneeling. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics typically complete a postsecondary
Education
al program. All states require EMTs and paramedics to be licensed in the state in which they work; requirements vary by state. Education High school students interested in becoming EMTs or paramedics should take courses in life sciences and consider becoming certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Some high schools offer EMT
Training
through vocational or technical education programs. EMTs typically need to complete a postsecondary education program to enter the occupation. Program applicants usually need a high school diploma or equivalent and certification in CPR and basic life support (BLS). However, program entry requirements vary by state. Most EMT programs lead to a nondegree award. They vary in length but typically take less than 1 year for EMT-Basic certification and up to 2 years for EMT-Intermediate certification. Programs are offered by technical institutes, community colleges, universities, and facilities that specialize in emergency care training. Some instruction may take place in a hospital or ambulance setting. EMT-Basic programs cover topics such as assessing patients’ conditions, handling emergencies, and using field equipment. Programs that do not require BLS and CPR certification prior to admission include instruction that leads to those certifications as part of the program. EMT-Intermediate programs require additional instruction for advanced skills, such as using complex airway devices, intravenous fluids, and some medications. Paramedic postsecondary programs require applicants to have EMT-Intermediate certification. Most programs at community colleges typically lead to a nondegree award or an associate’s degree. Some programs are offered by 4-year universities and lead to a bachelor’s degree. Paramedic programs include courses such as anatomy and physiology, EKG interpretation, and maintaining airflow. They typically include supervised field experience.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
All states require EMTs and paramedics to be licensed; requirements vary by state. Most states require candidates to be certified, but others require passage of an equivalent state exam. States also may have other requirements for licensing, such as a minimum age and passing a background check. Information on state licensing board requirements is available from CareerOneStop. Employers typically require job candidates to have a driver’s license and may prefer that they have ambulance driver certification. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop. Other Work Experience Paramedics typically need work experience as an EMT prior to entering a paramedic education program. Working as a volunteer EMT or paramedic may be helpful in getting experience for employment in these occupations. Advancement With additional education, paramedics may transfer into other healthcare occupations. For example, paramedic-to-RN programs offer an accelerated pathway to becoming a registered nurse.
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Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Overall employment of EMTs and paramedics is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. About 18,200 openings for EMTs and paramedics are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment Emergencies, such as car crashes, natural disasters, drug abuse incidents, and acts of violence, will continue to require the skills of EMTs and paramedics. Growth in the middle-aged and older population will lead to an increase in age-related health emergencies, such as falls, heart attacks, and strokes. This increase, in turn, will support demand for EMT and paramedic services. EMTs and Paramedics Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Health technologists and technicians 7% Emergency medical technicians 6% Emergency medical technicians and paramedics 6% Paramedics 6% Total, all occupations 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What EMTs and Paramedics Do
Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics assess injuries and illnesses, provide emergency medical care, and may transport patients to medical facilities.
Duties
EMTs and paramedics typically do the following:
- Respond to calls for medical assistance, such as at the scene of a car accident in which someone is injured
- Assess people’s condition and determine what treatment, if any, is needed
- Provide treatment, such as first aid or life support care, to sick or injured patients
- Prepare patients for and safely transport them to the emergency department of a hospital or other healthcare facility
- Document and report observations and any treatment provided, to physicians, nurses, or other healthcare staff
- Inventory and replace medical supplies and clean equipment after use
When transporting a patient in an ambulance, one EMT or paramedic may drive the ambulance while another monitors the patient’s vital signs and provides emergency medical care. Some paramedics work as part of a helicopter’s or an airplane’s flight crew to transport critically ill or injured patients to a hospital.
In addition to transporting patients from the scene of an emergency, EMTs and paramedics transfer patients from one medical facility to another. Some patients may need to be transferred to a hospital that specializes in treating their particular injury or illness or to a facility that provides long-term care, such as a nursing home.
EMTs and paramedics must decontaminate the interior of an ambulance after treating a patient who has a contagious disease. They also may need to report the case to the proper authorities.
The specific responsibilities of EMTs and paramedics depend on their level of certification and the state in which they work. EMTs and paramedics sometimes begin with emergency medical responder (EMR) certification and advance to other levels of certification as they gain competency. The following are some of the duties at each of these EMT or paramedic certification levels.
An EMT, also known as an EMT-Basic, cares for patients at the scene of an incident and while taking patients by ambulance to a hospital. An EMT has the skills to assess a patient’s condition and to manage emergencies such as those related to respiratory, cardiac, or trauma incidents.
An Advanced EMT, also known as an EMT-Intermediate, has completed both requirements for the EMT-Basic level and instruction that allows them to perform more advanced medical procedures, such as administering intravenous fluids and some medications.
Paramedics provide more extensive prehospital care than do EMTs. In addition to doing the tasks of EMTs, they are able to administer a wider range of medications, such as through intravenous methods. Paramedics also perform advanced airflow management and interpret electrocardiograms (EKGs)—which monitor heart function—and other types of equipment.
EMTs and paramedics typically interact with other public safety and support personnel. For example, a 911 operator sends EMTs and paramedics to the scene of an emergency, where they often work with police and firefighters.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Emergency medical technicians held about 181,900 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of emergency medical technicians were as follows:
| Ambulance services | 46% |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 24 |
| General medical and surgical hospitals; private | 16 |
| General medical and surgical hospitals; local | 3 |
| Outpatient care centers | 2 |
Paramedics held about 102,200 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of paramedics were as follows:
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 38% |
| Ambulance services | 38 |
| General medical and surgical hospitals; private | 13 |
| General medical and surgical hospitals; local | 4 |
| Offices of physicians | 1 |
These employment data exclude volunteer EMTs and paramedics, who share many of the same duties as paid EMTs and paramedics.
EMTs and paramedics work both indoors and outdoors, in all types of weather. Their work is physically strenuous, and they spend much of their time standing or moving. Their work also may be stressful, especially when it involves life-or-death situations. Some paramedics must fly on helicopters or airplanes as part of an air ambulance flight crew.
Injuries and Illnesses
EMTs and paramedics have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. EMTs and paramedics spend considerable time kneeling, bending, and lifting while caring for and moving patients. They may be exposed to serious diseases and viruses, such as HIV. EMTs and paramedics may reduce the risk of injury and illness by following proper safety procedures, such as waiting for police to clear an area in violent situations or wearing a mask and gloves while working with a patient.
Work Schedules
Most EMTs and paramedics work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week. Because EMTs and paramedics must be available to work in emergencies, their schedules may vary to include nights, weekends, and holidays. Some EMTs and paramedics work extended shifts, such as ones lasting 12, 18, or 24 hours.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Communication skills. EMTs and paramedics must listen to patients describe their injuries and illnesses and to dispatchers and others conveying information. They also need to provide clear instruction and explain procedures. Compassion. EMTs and paramedics must be able to provide care and emotional support to patients who may be in life-threatening situations or under extreme mental distress. Interpersonal skills. EMTs and paramedics must be able to coordinate activities with other members of their team. They also interact with a variety of people when responding to calls for assistance. Physical strength. EMTs and paramedics must be comfortable bending, lifting, and kneeling over the course of their shift. Problem-solving skills. EMTs and paramedics must evaluate patients’ symptoms and determine the appropriate treatment.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about EMTs and paramedics by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.