Jobs Similar to Paramedics
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to paramedics, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Acute Care Nurses, Critical Care Nurses and Emergency Medicine Physicians.
Paramedics: $60,600 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Paramedics) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acute Care Nurses | 80% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Critical Care Nurses | 79% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | 79% | $335,550+454% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | 79% | $35,450−42% | High school |
| 5 | Ophthalmic Medical TechnologistsSame group | 78% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 6 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesSame group | 78% | $64,400+6% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Registered Nurses | 77% | $97,550+61% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Respiratory Therapists | 77% | $82,280+36% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | 77% | $33,580−45% | High school |
| 10 | Exercise Physiologists | 76% | $59,460−2% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists | 76% | $292,910+383% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Athletic Trainers | 76% | $62,520+3% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Urologists | 75% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Surgical Assistants | 75% | $66,800+10% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Physical Therapists | 75% | $102,760+70% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Nurse Anesthetists | 74% | $236,590+290% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Animal Control Workers | 74% | $45,660−25% | High school |
| 18 | Physical Therapist Assistants | 74% | $68,380+13% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Physical Therapist Aides | 74% | $35,240−42% | High school |
| 20 | Sports Medicine Physicians | 74% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
- 1Acute Care Nurses
80% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Critical Care Nurses
79% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Emergency Medicine Physicians
79% similar · $335,550 (+454%) · Graduate degree
- 4Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
79% similar · $35,450 (−42%) · High school
- 5Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
78% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 6Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
78% similar · $64,400 (+6%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 7Registered Nurses
77% similar · $97,550 (+61%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Respiratory Therapists
77% similar · $82,280 (+36%) · Training or associate
- 9Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
77% similar · $33,580 (−45%) · High school
- 10Exercise Physiologists
76% similar · $59,460 (−2%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Obstetricians and Gynecologists
76% similar · $292,910 (+383%) · Graduate degree
- 12Athletic Trainers
76% similar · $62,520 (+3%) · Graduate degree
- 13Urologists
75% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 14Surgical Assistants
75% similar · $66,800 (+10%) · Training or associate
- 15Physical Therapists
75% similar · $102,760 (+70%) · Graduate degree
- 16Nurse Anesthetists
74% similar · $236,590 (+290%) · Graduate degree
- 17Animal Control Workers
74% similar · $45,660 (−25%) · High school
- 18Physical Therapist Assistants
74% similar · $68,380 (+13%) · Training or associate
- 19Physical Therapist Aides
74% similar · $35,240 (−42%) · High school
- 20Sports Medicine Physicians
74% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than paramedics.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for paramedics also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where paramedics is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Acute Care Nurses (87)
- Critical Care Nurses (86)
- Surgical Assistants (85)
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians (84)
- Nursing Assistants (82)
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers (79)
- Phlebotomists (78)
- Respiratory Therapists (77)
- Medical Assistants (75)
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers (75)
Questions about jobs like paramedics
What jobs are most similar to paramedics?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Acute Care Nurses (80% similar), Critical Care Nurses (79% similar), Emergency Medicine Physicians (79% similar), Ambulance Drivers and Attendants (79% similar) and Ophthalmic Medical Technologists (78% similar).
Which jobs like paramedics pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Emergency Medicine Physicians ($335,550, +454%; usually a graduate degree), Obstetricians and Gynecologists ($292,910, +383%; usually a graduate degree) and Nurse Anesthetists ($236,590, +290%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with paramedics ($60,600). Without more preparation than paramedics usually need: Respiratory Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants and Surgical Assistants.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.