Paramedics
Administer basic or advanced emergency medical care and assess injuries and illnesses. May administer medication intravenously, use equipment such as EKGs, or administer advanced life support to sick or injured individuals.
Also called: Critical Care Flight Paramedic, Critical Care Paramedic, ED Paramedic (Emergency Department Paramedic), EMT Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic), ER Paramedic (Emergency Room Paramedic), Firefighter Paramedic
Median pay
$60,600
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$44,230 – $84,850
People employed
100,610
Holland code
SRI
Social · Realistic · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 2.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 3.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 4.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 5.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
The hard parts
- Exposure to disease or infection
- Work outdoors in all weather
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
Paramedics pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What paramedics do
- 01Perform emergency cardiac care, such as cardioversion and manual defibrillation.
- 02Perform emergency invasive intervention before delivering patient to an acute care facility.
- 03Coordinate work with other emergency medical team members or police or fire department personnel.
- 04Assess nature and extent of illness or injury to establish and prioritize medical procedures.
- 05Comfort and reassure patients.
- 06Administer first aid treatment or life support care to sick or injured persons in prehospital settings.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- Customer and Personal Service
- Biology
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cooperation
- Self-Control
Education and first steps
O*NET has no education survey data for this job.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from paramedics
- Acute Care Nurses85% · group pay
- Critical Care Nurses84% · group pay
- Respiratory Therapists84% · +36%
- Registered Nurses82% · +61%
- Surgical Assistants82% · +10%
Change into paramedics
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Acute Care Nurses87% · $97,550
- Critical Care Nurses86% · $97,550
- Surgical Assistants85% · $66,800
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians84% · $35,450
- Nursing Assistants82% · $42,260
Majors that lead here
- Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.