What Does it Take to Be an Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic?
EMT or Paramedic Definition Assess injuries, administer emergency medical care, and extricate trapped individuals. Transport injured or sick persons to medical facilities.
Life As an EMT or Paramedic
- Observe, record, and report to physician the patient’s condition or injury, the treatment provided, and reactions to drugs or treatment.
- Communicate with dispatchers or treatment center personnel to provide information about situation, to arrange reception of victims, or to receive instructions for further treatment.
- Administer first aid treatment or life support care to sick or injured persons in prehospital settings.
- Coordinate with treatment center personnel to obtain patients’ vital statistics and medical history, to determine the circumstances of the emergency, and to administer emergency treatment.
- Immobilize patient for placement on stretcher and ambulance transport, using backboard or other spinal immobilization device.
- Coordinate work with other emergency medical team members or police or fire department personnel.
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EMT or Paramedic Needed Skills
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
- EMT/Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic)
- EMT, Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic)
- Ambulance Driver-Paramedic
- EMT-I/99
- Emergency Medical Technician/Driver (EMT/DRIVER)
Are There Job Opportunities for Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics?
In the United States, there were 248,000 jobs for Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic in 2016. 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.
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 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 do Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics may use on a daily basis:
- 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 Long Does it Take to Become an EMT or Paramedic?
Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics Sector
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 interested in being an Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic may also be interested in:
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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