SOC 29-2042.00Bright outlook

    Emergency Medical Technicians

    Assess injuries and illnesses and administer basic emergency medical care.

    Median pay
    $44,470
    Growth
    +5.8%
    Faster than average
    Openings a year
    13,800
    Typical education
    Postsecondary certificate

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $34,130
    Median
    $44,470
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $62,500
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    180,510 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Emergency Medical Technicians assess injuries and illnesses, provide basic emergency medical care, and transport patients. The career offers a median annual pay of $44,470, with opportunities for faster-than-average employment growth.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What emergency medical technicians do

    Job Zone 3: Medium preparation

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

    Usually vocational training, an associate degree or related experience.

    What the work is like

    People in this career, often called EMTs, are responsible for evaluating sick or injured individuals and delivering immediate medical attention. They frequently transport patients to hospitals and other medical facilities. This role requires a strong interest in social service and helping others.

    To succeed in this environment, workers must demonstrate high levels of stress tolerance, self-control, and dependability. They need to adapt quickly to changing situations, show empathy to patients in distress, and maintain strong self-confidence during crises. Attention to detail and cooperation with other emergency personnel are also essential for ensuring patient safety.

    How to get there

    Entering this field typically requires a postsecondary certificate, which represents a medium level of preparation. Many individuals complete vocational training, earn an associate degree, or gain related experience before starting.

    Students who want to prepare for this career often major in allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions. Relevant certifications include the Emergency Medical Responder and Emergency Medical Technician credentials from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, as well as the Certified Community Paramedic credential from the International Board of Specialty Certification. Additionally, some states list a license for this work.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for these professionals was $44,470. Earnings vary based on experience and location, with the lowest 10% earning less than $34,130 and the highest 10% earning more than $62,500.

    There are 180,510 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 5.8%, which is faster than average. This growth is expected to result in approximately 13,800 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    74 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    60 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    0 / 100
    Social (S) · strongest
    76 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    9 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    46 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code SRI. Compare it with yours

    Skills and strengths

    Work styles

    • Self-Control
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Dependability
    • Integrity
    • Adaptability
    • Perseverance
    • Attention to Detail
    • Cooperation
    • Empathy
    • Self-Confidence

    Also called

    Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) · Ambulance Driver · Dispatcher · Emergency Department Technician (ED Technician) · Emergency Medical Driver · Emergency Medical Responder · Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (EMT-B) · Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) · Emergency Room Technician · EMT Paramedic (Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic)

    Career pathway

    From your interests to emergency medical technicians

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Emergency Medical Technicians$44,470 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1Wagner College logo
      Wagner College

      Staten Island, NY · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $156,982
      Median debt
      $27,000
    2. 2St. John's University-New York logo
      St. John's University-New York

      Queens, NY · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $102,500
      4 yrs after
      $142,774
      Median debt
      $23,325
    3. 3John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences logo
      John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences

      South Bend, IN · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $112,673
      4 yrs after
      $122,061
      Median debt
      $23,437
    4. 4Saint Francis University logo
      Saint Francis University

      Loretto, PA · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $115,813
      Median debt
      $28,000
    5. 5D'Youville University logo
      D'Youville University

      Buffalo, NY · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $113,290
      4 yrs after
      $114,737
      Median debt
      $30,703
    6. 6Molloy College logo
      Molloy College

      Rockville Centre, NY · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $90,567
      4 yrs after
      $111,267
      Median debt
      Not reported
    7. 7Salisbury University logo
      Salisbury University

      Salisbury, MD · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $75,312
      4 yrs after
      $109,739
      Median debt
      $23,250
    8. 8Long Island University logo
      Long Island University

      Brookville, NY · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $90,526
      4 yrs after
      $107,539
      Median debt
      $22,000

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What emergency medical technicians may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    43 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about emergency medical technicians

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some common alternative job titles for this career?

    Workers in this field are known by several titles, including Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Department Technician, and EMT Paramedic. They may also be referred to as Ambulance Drivers, Dispatchers, or Emergency Medical Responders.

    What college majors are related to this profession?

    Students interested in this career path typically pursue college majors in allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions. This coursework provides the foundational medical knowledge required for emergency care.

    What certifications are available for emergency medical technicians?

    Available certifications include the Emergency Medical Responder and Emergency Medical Technician credentials offered by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. Additionally, practitioners can earn the Certified Community Paramedic credential from the International Board of Specialty Certification.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.