Deliver advanced emergency medical care, including medications and airway support, before and during transport.
You may also see this posted as: First Responder, Flight Paramedic.
Ambulances and emergency scenes; high-stress, physical, all conditions.
Long shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays; on-call.
Social
helping, teaching, caring for, or supporting other people
Realistic
working with tools, equipment, materials, or the physical world
Investigative
solving problems, analyzing evidence, and figuring out how things work
O*NET job zone 3 of 5
Medium preparation—often vocational training, an associate degree, or substantial experience—is usually needed.
Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.
May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.
Certificate program
Training path: 1–2 year program after EMT.
Related work experience: Less than 5 years.
On-the-job training: None.
Requires completing an accredited program and holding state licensure.
Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.
The ambulance's clinician — fire departments pay more for the patch.
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Free resume templates, interview practice, and getting-hired guides in the Careers kit.
Standard Occupational Classification 29-2043. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.