Career roadmap

How to become a Paramedic

$38,930 median/yr·Suits people who are strongly social

Median annual wage for Emergency Medical Technicians (29-2042) — BLS OEWS, May 2023.

What you would actually do

The tasks this work is built on. O*NET measures the closest official occupation, Emergency Medical Technicians — so read these as the shape of the job, not a job description written for the title.

Treat medical emergencies.
Analyze patient data to determine patient needs or treatment goals.
Maintain medical or professional knowledge.
Interact with patients to build rapport or provide emotional support.
Inform medical professionals regarding patient conditions and care.
Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
Sterilize medical equipment or instruments.
Drive vehicles to transport individuals or equipment.

Would this suit you?

Every occupation leans on a particular mix of interests. Here is the mix measured for a Paramedic — and our free 2-minute Career Match scores you on the same six.

Social5.6/7
Helping, teaching, caring for and working directly with people
Realistic5.5/7
Hands-on, practical, working with tools, machines or the body
Investigative4.5/7
Investigating, diagnosing, reasoning through problems with evidence
Conventional3.8/7
Ordering, checking, following a precise procedure accurately
Enterprising1.5/7
Persuading, leading, selling, taking commercial risk
Artistic1.0/7
Creating, expressing, working without a fixed procedure

See how you score — 2 min, free

Interest profiles from the O*NET 29.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Used under CC BY 4.0.