Emergency Medical Technicians
SOC code 29-2042 · O*NET-SOC 29-2042.00 · Medium preparation needed · Healthcare
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Emergency Medical Technicians pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$44,470
a year
Hourly
$21.38
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$46,830
$22.52 per hour
Middle 50%
$37,960 – $50,100
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$34,130 – $62,500
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
180,510
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $34,130
- $16.41/hr
- 25th percentile
- $37,960
- $18.25/hr
- Median percentile
- $44,470
- $21.38/hr
- 75th percentile
- $50,100
- $24.09/hr
- 90th percentile
- $62,500
- $30.05/hr
What does an emergency medical technician do?
Assess injuries and illnesses and administer basic emergency medical care. May transport injured or sick persons to medical facilities.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Administer first aid treatment or life support care to sick or injured persons in prehospital settings.
- Assess nature and extent of illness or injury to establish and prioritize medical procedures.
- Attend training classes to maintain certification licensure, keep abreast of new developments in the field, or maintain existing knowledge.
- Comfort and reassure patients.
- Communicate with dispatchers or treatment center personnel to provide information about situation, to arrange reception of survivors, or to receive instructions for further treatment.
- Coordinate work with other emergency medical team members or police or fire department personnel.
- Decontaminate ambulance interior following treatment of patient with infectious disease, and report case to proper authorities.
- Drive mobile intensive care unit to specified location, following instructions from emergency medical dispatcher.
How to become an emergency medical technician
Preparation level: zone 3 — Medium preparation needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does an emergency medical technician earn?
The national median is $44,470 a year. The full range runs from $34,130 at the 10th percentile to $62,500 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become an emergency medical technician without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 3, meaning the typical entry route is most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.