Paramedics vs EMT Basics
Median pay is about $16k higher for Paramedics. Both usually start with the same education: postsecondary cert.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Paramedics | EMT Basics |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $60,600, higher | $44,470 |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $49,660, higher | $37,960 |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $73,470, higher | $50,100 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +5.7% Growing fast | +5.8% Growing fast, higher |
| Openings a year | 4,300 | 13,800 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Postsecondary cert | Postsecondary cert |
| Difficulty modeled | 3 / 5 | 2.4 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | Low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 33rd pct | 33rd pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Paramedics
- Quick assessment
- Driving
Only EMT Basics
- CPR
- Communication
Both lean on emergency care, composure, stamina.
More comparisons
Compare Paramedics with
Compare EMT Basics with
Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.