Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Postsecondary nondegree award
Less than 5 years
None
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Paramedics play a critical role in emergency medical care and patient support. Nationally, this career employs about 102,000 people, indicating a sizable workforce and a clearly established profession. The national median annual salary of $58,410 provides a useful benchmark for evaluating offers across different regions. Projected employment growth of 5.0%, combined with about 5,000 annual openings, suggests a steady stream of opportunities for new entrants and experienced professionals. Typical preparation for this field involves a postsecondary nondegree award, making it accessible to those who want a healthcare career without a long academic path. The role benefits from strong interpersonal, adaptability, and problem-solving skills, as well as physical strength and stamina. Individuals interested in patient-focused work within healthcare, and who can handle detailed, time-sensitive situations, may find paramedic careers appealing. Related career options include registered nurses, various other healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, physical therapists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners.
The national median annual salary for paramedics is $58,410, but pay can vary significantly by location. Among states, Washington stands out with a median salary of $104,310, notably higher than the national median. California and New York also offer higher median salaries of $74,590 and $73,200, while Massachusetts and Colorado provide $66,340 and $63,910, respectively. At the metro level, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area reports a median salary of $84,480, and the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metros show salaries of $83,090 and $79,550. The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro has a median of $75,190, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is at $66,460. These figures show that paramedics who are open to relocating may encounter a wide range of earning potential across states and metro areas.
Paramedics have a national employment level of about 102,000, with a projected employment growth rate of 5.0%. This same 5.0% rate appears across the highlighted top states and metro areas, indicating consistent projected growth in multiple regions. Nationally, there are around 5,000 annual openings, reflecting both new positions and turnover within the existing workforce. For individuals entering the field, this combination of current employment size, growth, and openings points to ongoing opportunities over time rather than a static or shrinking job market. The presence of paramedic roles in a range of states and metro areas with similar projected growth suggests that opportunities are not limited to a single geographic pocket. People considering this career can use these figures to evaluate potential job stability and the likelihood of finding positions in their preferred regions or in locations where they may be willing to move.
Location can significantly shape the opportunity profile for paramedics. Among states, California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington all have a projected 5.0% growth rate, but they differ in pay, employment level, and overall opportunity score. Washington offers the highest listed state median salary at $104,310, while California and New York also show relatively high salaries and the highest employment counts among the featured states. Massachusetts and Colorado offer moderate median salaries with smaller employment levels but still solid opportunity scores. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ stand out with the highest opportunity scores and strong median wages. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV also provide relatively high salaries and opportunity scores, while Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH combines a sizable employment count with a competitive median wage. These variations allow paramedics to compare both earnings and opportunity scores when evaluating where to live and work.
The typical education requirement for paramedics is a postsecondary nondegree award, positioning this career as a healthcare option that does not require a full degree. Success in this field draws on a mix of technical knowledge and personal capabilities. Key skills include interpersonal communication, adaptability, leadership, and customer service, reflecting the need to interact effectively with patients and others. Problem solving and decision making, along with being detail oriented, support accurate and timely responses in complex situations. Science and mathematics skills contribute to understanding medical information and measurements, while writing and reading skills help with documentation and following instructions. Physical strength and stamina are also important, aligning with the physical demands often associated with this work. Together, the education level and skill profile suggest that individuals who can blend technical learning with strong people skills and physical resilience may be well positioned to enter and grow in this profession.
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