Paramedics
SOC code 29-2043 · O*NET-SOC 29-2043.00 · Medium preparation needed · Healthcare
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Paramedics pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$60,600
a year
Hourly
$29.13
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$63,360
$30.46 per hour
Middle 50%
$49,660 – $73,470
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$44,230 – $84,850
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
100,610
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $44,230
- $21.27/hr
- 25th percentile
- $49,660
- $23.88/hr
- Median percentile
- $60,600
- $29.13/hr
- 75th percentile
- $73,470
- $35.32/hr
- 90th percentile
- $84,850
- $40.80/hr
What does a paramedic do?
Administer basic or advanced emergency medical care and assess injuries and illnesses. May administer medication intravenously, use equipment such as EKGs, or administer advanced life support to sick or injured individuals.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Perform emergency cardiac care, such as cardioversion and manual defibrillation.
- Perform emergency invasive intervention before delivering patient to an acute care facility.
- Coordinate work with other emergency medical team members or police or fire department personnel.
- Assess nature and extent of illness or injury to establish and prioritize medical procedures.
- Comfort and reassure patients.
- Administer first aid treatment or life support care to sick or injured persons in prehospital settings.
- Operate equipment, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), external defibrillators, or bag valve mask resuscitators, in advanced life support environments.
- Perform emergency pharmacological interventions.
How to become a paramedic
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 a paramedic earn?
The national median is $60,600 a year. The full range runs from $44,230 at the 10th percentile to $84,850 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a paramedic 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.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
- Active Listening3.6/5
- Reading Comprehension3.5/5
- Speaking3.5/5
- Monitoring3.5/5
- Active Learning3.4/5
Knowledge areas
- Medicine and Dentistry4.5/5
- English Language4.2/5
- Public Safety and Security3.9/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.9/5
- Biology3.7/5
- Education and Training3.7/5
- Psychology3.5/5
- Mathematics3.4/5
Transferable strengths: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making.