Occupation · SOC 29-2042
Emergency Medical Technicians
Assess injuries and illnesses and administer basic emergency medical care. May transport injured or sick persons to medical facilities.
Median wage
$41,340
$31,410–$60,780
Projected growth
+5.1%
Average growth
Annual openings
920
per year
Employed (US)
177,980
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
569 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingWriting
Knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageBiologyPsychology
Technology & tools
EpocratesHyperToxInformed EMS Field GuideIterum eMedicMEDITECH softwareMedDataSolutions Regist*rMedical Wizards ER & ICU ToolBoxMedical Wizards ER SuiteMedical Wizards Paramedics ToolBoxMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordMicrosoft operating systemMosby's Drug ConsultPEPID EMSPalmtree EMS Field Reference GuidePalmtree Pocket EKGSkyscape Rosen and Barkin's 5-Minute Emergency Medicine ConsultSkyscape medical softwareTechOnSoftware HazMatCE Pro
Representative tasks
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Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Patient vital signs — measure and record under direct supervisor guidance at an emergency scene or training simulation.Basic life support protocols — apply following established checklists during supervised field response calls.Patient medical histories — collect initial information by questioning and listening during supervised patient intake.Emergency medical equipment — identify, inspect, and stage under direction prior to shift deployment.Radio communication procedures — use standard terminology to relay patient status to receiving hospital staff under supervision.Scene safety assessments — perform preliminary hazard recognition checks before approaching an incident under EMT oversight.Spinal immobilization devices — apply cervical collars and backboards following step-by-step protocols under direct instruction.Patient observation findings — document basic signs and symptoms using agency-approved paper or electronic run reports.Oxygen delivery systems — set up and administer supplemental oxygen following prescribed flow rates under supervisor direction.Cardiopulmonary resuscitation — execute adult, child, and infant CPR cycles in accordance with current AHA guidelines during supervised responses.
developing
Neuromusculoskeletal assessments — conduct structured physical examinations to identify motor deficits and injury patterns during routine emergency calls.Patient medical histories — obtain and record comprehensive histories independently by integrating questioning, observation, and chart review on scene.Critical thinking under pressure — analyze multiple patient symptoms simultaneously to prioritize treatment decisions with reduced supervisor oversight.Medication administration — prepare and administer approved EMT-level medications following standing orders in pre-hospital care settings.Electronic patient care reports — complete accurate, detailed documentation within required timeframes using agency medical software after each call.Patient communication — explain procedures and provide reassurance clearly to anxious or injured patients across diverse community settings.Trauma triage — apply START or similar triage systems to categorize multiple patients during mass casualty incidents with minimal direction.Airway management — perform bag-valve-mask ventilation and airway adjunct insertion for compromised patients during field emergencies.Pediatric patient assessment — adapt examination and treatment approaches for infant and child patients in home or school emergency settings.Monitoring changes in patient condition — track and interpret ongoing vital sign trends during transport to adjust care plans appropriately.
proficient
Complex patient assessments — integrate health history, physical examination findings, and clinical indicators autonomously to form differential impressions in high-acuity field situations.Non-routine emergency management — develop and execute individualized care plans for atypical presentations, including multi-system trauma and behavioral health crises.Advanced airway interventions — perform supraglottic airway placement and ventilator management during critical transports with full clinical independence.Spinal and musculoskeletal evaluation — assess neuromusculoskeletal system integrity using systematic examination techniques to guide immobilization and transport decisions.Pharmacological interventions — administer expanded formulary medications under medical direction protocols, adjusting dosing based on evolving patient response.Quality data documentation — produce thorough, legally defensible electronic patient care reports that support billing, quality review, and continuity of care.Interprofessional coordination — communicate detailed patient handoff reports to emergency department physicians and nurses using SBAR format during hospital transitions.Community health navigation — identify social determinants of health during patient encounters and connect individuals to appropriate community resources.Critical incident judgment — exercise independent decision making to determine transport destination, mode, and priority level across varied urban and rural environments.Technology integration — utilize information retrieval and medical software tools to reference protocols and clinical guidelines in real time during complex calls.
advanced
Agency protocol development — lead the design and revision of evidence-based clinical operating procedures that govern EMT practice across the organization.Clinical education programs — develop and deliver structured training curricula for new and continuing EMT staff using adult learning principles and simulation technology.Quality improvement initiatives — analyze patient care report data at an organizational level to identify trends and implement system-wide performance improvements.Medical director partnership — collaborate with physician medical directors to expand scope-of-practice guidelines and formulary approvals aligned with community health needs.Multi-agency incident command — serve as medical group supervisor during large-scale mass casualty events, directing triage and treatment resources across multiple crews.Mentorship and competency evaluation — assess EMT candidate performance during field internships and provide structured feedback that shapes workforce capability.Organizational policy leadership — set strategic direction for equipment procurement, vehicle deployment, and staffing models to optimize emergency response capacity.Community health advocacy — represent the EMS agency at public health forums and government bodies to influence pre-hospital care standards and funding priorities.Interdisciplinary program coordination — align EMS operations with hospital emergency departments, public safety agencies, and social services to build integrated care pathways.Research and innovation adoption — evaluate emerging pre-hospital clinical evidence and technology solutions, leading pilot programs to advance agency practice at the systems level.
Also known as
25 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT)Ambulance DriverDispatcherEmergency Department Technician (ED Technician)Emergency Medical DriverEmergency Medical ResponderEmergency Medical Technician (EMT)Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (EMT-B)Emergency Room TechnicianEMT Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic)EMT-B (Emergency Medical Technician- Basic)EMT-I/85EMT-I/99EMT-PFirst ResponderHealth Care SpecialistHealthcare SpecialistMedical DriverMedical Equipment Delivery DriverMedical TechnicianNon-Emergency Medical Transportation DriverOnsite Medical Representative (Onsite Medical Rep)ParamedicRescue Technician (Rescue Tech)Rescue Worker