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Paramedic

$60,600
median pay per year
$44,230 – $84,850
what most earn (10th–90th percentile)

What the job actually is

Deliver advanced emergency medical care, including medications and airway support, before and during transport.

Where you work

Ambulances and emergency scenes; high-stress, physical, all conditions.

The hours

Long shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays; on-call.

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$60,600
per year
What most earn
$44,230–$84,850
10th to 90th percentile
Openings a year
~4,900
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+5%
Faster than average
Working in the U.S.
100,610
people, nationwide

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.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Certificate program

Training path: 1–2 year program after EMT.

License or certification

Requires completing an accredited program and holding state licensure.

What it takes

Clinical judgmentComposurePhysical staminaCommunication

The honest take

The ambulance's clinician — fire departments pay more for the patch.

Standard Occupational Classification 29-2043. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.