EMT vs Paramedic: pay, jobs and what each takes

Paramedics, by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025): a median of $29.13 an hour ($60,600 a year), against $21.38 ($44,470 a year) for emergency medical technicians, $7.75 an hour more. The open jobs on this board today post medians of $24.50 an hour for emergency medical technicians and $30.13 for paramedics.

On this board today: 752 open emergency medical technician jobs and 972 paramedic jobs, read from each employer's own job board. BLS expects about 13,800 openings a year for emergency medical technicians and 4,300 for paramedics, with employment changing +5.8% and +5.7% over 2025-2035.

EMTs respond to 911 calls and transfers, assess patients, give basic life support and transport them safely, on ambulances, in fire departments and at events. Paramedics give advanced life support before the hospital: IVs, cardiac monitoring, medications and airways, on 911 ambulances, flight teams and in emergency departments.

A state-approved EMT course (about 150 to 200 hours), then the National Registry and state exams. (BLS: Postsecondary nondegree award.) EMT certification, then a paramedic program (often an associate degree) and the National Registry paramedic exam. (BLS: Postsecondary nondegree award.) Each occupation's page lists its credentials and who grants them: Emergency medical technicians, Paramedics.