Emergency Medical Technicians
Emergency Medical Technicians assess injuries and illnesses, provide basic emergency care, and transport patients to medical facilities. They work for ambulance services, fire departments, hospitals, and private emergency response organizations. EMTs respond to 911 calls and handle medical emergencies in homes, workplaces, vehicles, and public spaces.
Four short assessments and your background, scored against emergency medical technicians and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
A day in the work
EMTs spend shifts responding to emergency calls, traveling to scenes in ambulances, and assessing patients' conditions. They perform basic medical procedures, stabilize patients, and transport them to hospitals. Between calls, EMTs maintain equipment, restock supplies, and document patient information. Shifts typically run 12-24 hours and can involve multiple calls ranging from minor injuries to life-threatening emergencies.
Who this work suits
Holland code SRI. Social work is helping, teaching and working closely with people. Aptly’s interest assessment scores you on the same six scales.
You likely do well as an EMT if you're practical and action-oriented, comfortable responding to crisis situations with quick thinking. You're drawn to helping people directly through physical and hands-on work, and you find meaning in immediate, tangible results—stabilizing a patient or getting someone to treatment matters to you.
What it takes
Preparation: Medium preparation (vocational training, an associate degree, or related experience).
Who is hiring
Openings right now
- Emergency Medical Technician · Veterans Health Administration · Battle Creek, Michigan · $50460–$65599
- EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (MVO) · U.S. Army Medical Command · Multiple Locations · $56715–$76476
- EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (PARAMEDIC/MVO) · U.S. Army Medical Command · Multiple Locations · $69373–$93549
- Health Technician (EMT) · Indian Health Service · Harlem, Montana · $36464–$47334
- Health Technician (Emergency Medical Technician) (Seasonal) · National Park Service · Multiple Locations · $19.62–$25.5
Openings are read from employers’ own career pages and public job boards and change daily. Search all openings (free account) to filter by distance, pay and how well you qualify.
Pay by state
| State | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $59,170 | $66,410 | $84,620 | 560 |
| Alaska | $48,130 | $57,440 | $63,350 | 310 |
| New Jersey | $48,010 | $53,610 | $60,900 | 6,120 |
| Washington | $47,560 | $52,690 | $56,580 | 2,940 |
| Rhode Island | $44,440 | $51,290 | $56,520 | 430 |
| Connecticut | $46,640 | $50,640 | $56,850 | 2,190 |
| Massachusetts | $46,880 | $50,230 | $54,000 | 4,550 |
| Oregon | $43,220 | $49,270 | $55,530 | 1,970 |
| New York | $43,270 | $48,400 | $63,870 | 14,840 |
| Maryland | $45,490 | $48,100 | $61,460 | 3,400 |
| Minnesota | $41,480 | $48,090 | $52,940 | 3,160 |
| Wyoming | $37,550 | $47,070 | $53,660 | 400 |
All 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico
Certifications people in this field hold
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) — National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
- Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) — National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
- Diver Medic Technician (DMT) — National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology
Training
Aptly members see WIOA-approved programs, colleges and certificates near them, with completion and earnings data, on every Path plan.
Job titles in this occupation
Related occupations
Four short assessments and your background, scored against emergency medical technicians and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
O*NET-SOC 29-2042.00 · O*NET OnLine. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, annual, U.S. Employment counts are national.