Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics

At a Glance

Median Salary
$35,194

Local Jobs
490

Entry-Level Education
Certification

Occupation Profile

Assess injuries and illnesses and administer basic emergency medical care. May transport injured or sick persons to medical facilities.

By The Numbers

Median Annual Earnings

$35,194

Median Annual Earnings are the midpoint earned by 50 percent of workers who are the lowest paid and 50 percent of workers who are the highest paid in a particular occupation

Local Jobs

490

Jobs are any position in which a worker provides labor in exchange for monetary compensation (note: one individual may hold multiple jobs)

Entry-Level Education

Certification

This is the most common education level requested in entry-level job listings.

Daily Tasks

Administer drugs, orally or by injection, or perform intravenous procedures.
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.
Coordinate with treatment center personnel to obtain patients’ vital statistics and medical history, to determine the circumstances of the emergency, and to administer emergency treatment.
Coordinate work with other emergency medical team members or police or fire department personnel.
Instruct emergency medical response team about emergency interventions to ensure correct application of procedures.
Observe, record, and report to physician the patient’s condition or injury, the treatment provided, and reactions to drugs or treatment.
Operate equipment, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), external defibrillators, or bag valve mask resuscitators, in advanced life support environments.
Perform emergency cardiac care, such as cardioversion and manual defibrillation.
Perform emergency invasive intervention before delivering patient to an acute care facility.
Perform emergency pharmacological interventions.

Occupational Skills

What skills are necessary for Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics?

Hard Skills

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
De-escalation Techniques
Electrocardiography
Emergency Departments
Emergency Medical Services
Emergency Medicine
Geriatrics
Nursing
Pediatrics
Psychology

Soft Skills

Checklists
Clerical Works
Coaching
Communications
Customer Service
Good Driving Record
Lifting Ability
Management
Preparedness
Valid Driver's License

Hard skills are specific, learnable, measurable, often industry- or occupation-specific abilities related to a position.

Soft skills can be self-taught and usually do not necessitate a certain completed level of education. They are essential in many industries and occupations.

Education Programs

Del Mar College