How much does a paramedic make?

The median pay is $29.13 per hour — roughly $60,500 a year, with the real range running from about $21.27/hr (10th percentile) to $40.80/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What does a paramedic actually do all day?

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.

Health Care

Paramedics

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.

What it pays
Paramedics earn a median of $29.13/hr — about $60,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $21.27/hr; the top 10% earn $40.80/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

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.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Post-secondary certificate. Overall preparation: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).

The feel of the work

The work is mostly indoors; you're around people constantly; precision matters — small details carry weight. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 0% of paramedics are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are people-focused, hands-on and analytical.

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Related careers

Quick questions

How much does a paramedic make?: The median pay is $29.13 per hour — roughly $60,500 a year, with the real range running from about $21.27/hr (10th percentile) to $40.80/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a paramedic?: The typical entry-level education is: Post-secondary certificate. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
What does a paramedic actually do all day?: 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.

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

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