CAREER SNAPSHOT
Summary
Paramedics respond to emergency situations and provide on-the-scene immediate and advanced medical care to sick and injured people.
Career Level
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Salary
National average, per year
$34,320
JOB OPENINGS
Current national estimate
10,171
DEMAND OUTLOOK
Actual salaries can vary substantially based on region, job description and employer expectations; does not include additional compensation. Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
By Raising Careers Staff | Updated: May 2019
OVERVIEW
Paramedic Job Description
A paramedic is the highest level of EMT certification. A paramedic is often the lead member of a rescue team. They have more patient care responsibilities than EMTs and need more advanced training. They are trained in advanced emergency care techniques, cardiac care, patient stabilization and advanced respiratory procedures. They can also administer IV fluids, injections and medications.
Paramedics have more job opportunities, higher earning potential and more professional advancement opportunities than basic EMTs. Being a paramedic takes a huge amount of dedication and it may not be the right choice for many, but for some, it may be the perfect, rewarding career for a lifetime.
Paramedic Job Responsibilities
Paramedics may perform the following job duties. Actual duties may vary by job and location.
- Respond to 911 calls
- Assess the medical needs of the sick or injured person and determine treatment
- Administer medications including injections
- Start intravenous lines and administer IV fluids
- Provide advanced airway management and respiratory procedures
- Provide CPR
- Administer oxygen
- Assist with emergency childbirth
- Stabilize broken bones
- Document patient condition and care provided
- Control bleeding
- Safely transport patients to medical facilities
Paramedic Salary
The actual salary of the paramedic can vary substantially depending on region, job description and employer expectations. Most recent data shown.
National average per year: $34,320*
National average per hour: $16.50*
- $39,894 per year, $19.18 per hour**
- $36,150 per year, $17.38 per hour***
- $38,126 to $48,391 per year****
- $40,309 per year, $19.38 per hour*****
* Bureau of Labor Statics
** Indeed.com
*** Payscale.com
**** Salary.com
***** Glassdoor.com
Paramedic Career Pros and Cons
What are the ups and downs of being a paramedic? Here are a few items to keep in mind.
Pros
- Ability to save people’s lives
- Develop long-lasting friendships with coworkers
- Being a respected member of the community
- Job security
- Daily work varies and can be thrilling and exciting
- Opportunities for career advancement
Cons
- Can be mentally challenging
- Can be physically demanding
- May have to deal with difficult or uncooperative patients and/or family members
- Daily work can be very stressful
- Extensive paperwork
- May have to work long and irregular work shifts that can impact family life
- Can be put in potentially dangerous situations
- Potential exposure to blood, body fluids and infectious diseases
CAREER PATH AND TRAINING
How Do I Become a Paramedic?
If you are considering a career as a paramedic, here are the steps you will need to complete.
- Obtain your high school diploma/GED.
- Get certified in CPR through the American Heart Association.
- Complete an EMT training program and pass the EMT certification exam.
- Work as an EMT, typically for at least 6 months, as an enrollment requirement for many paramedic training programs.
- Complete a paramedic training program. Most programs take about 2 years to complete and result in an associate’s degree.
- Pass the paramedic certification exam administered by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) to become licensed.
Suggested Career Path
The position of the paramedic is at the beginning of the medical career pathway, but can be preceded by other entry-level jobs. A sample career path could look like this:
Medical Assistant > Paramedic > Registered Nurse (RN)
Typical Minimum Education
Actual requirements may vary by state. Please check with your state government.
- High school diploma / GED
- Completion of an EMT training program and EMT certification
- Completion of a paramedic training program (typically results in an associate’s degree)
- Paramedic certification
- CPR/ACLS/PALS certifications
Typical Work Experience Required
Need to have experience working as an EMT.
Typical Skills Required
Common skills listed. Actual skills required may vary by job and location.
- Ability to stay calm and focused under pressure
- Ability to identify and assess problems in emergency situations
- Proficient IV skills
- Compassion and the ability to provide solid emotional support to people in life-threatening situations
- Ability to work as a team
- Physical stamina
- Exceptional decision-making skills
- Exceptional critical thinking skills to assess and diagnose logically and rationally
Paramedic Certifications
After successful completion of the paramedic training program, you must pass the certification exam administered by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT).
Certification through the American Heart Association (AHA) is also required:
- BLS, Basic Life Support for healthcare providers (AHA)
- ACLS, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support for healthcare providers (AHA)
- PALS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support for healthcare providers (AHA)
These are voluntary certifications to consider that are offered through the International Board of Specialty Certification (IBSC), the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the National Certification Corporation (NCC):
- NHDP-BC, National Healthcare Disaster Professional (ANCC)
- CP-C, Community Paramedic Certification (IBSC)
- CCP-C, Critical Care Paramedic Certification (IBSC)
- FP-C, Flight Paramedic Certification (IBSC)
- TP-C, Tactical Paramedic Certification (IBSC)
- TR-C, Tactical Responder Certification (IBSC)
- CMI, Certified Medical Interpreter (NBCMI)
- C-EFM, Certification in Electronic Fetal Monitoring (NCC)
- C-NPT, Certification in Neonatal Pediatric Transport (NCC)
Click on the certifications to find out more.
Paramedic Licenses
Licensure required in all states. This typically includes passing a certification exam administered by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT).
Paramedic Training and Preparation
In order to enroll in a paramedic training program, you need to complete an EMT training program and pass the EMT certification exam. Some paramedic training programs require you to work as an EMT for at least 6 months before you can enroll. The paramedic training programs are typically comprised of 1,200 to 1,800 hours of classroom and clinical training.
Once you have successfully completed the training program, you are then required to pass your state’s certification exam, which is typically administered by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). You must pass this exam in order to become licensed. The exam can be very challenging and being prepared and organized can help ensure your success. There are many ways to prepare for the exam. The NREMT website offers important test information. There are many online resources that offer practice tests, practice questions and even skills checklists that you can download and print. Flashcards and test review books are also great study tools. There are many options available online or in your local bookstore.
Many employers require you to be PHTLS Certified. This is achieved through the completion of a training course in prehospital trauma life support offered by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT). The initial course is 16 hours and an 8 hour refresher course is needed every 4 years to maintain certification.
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