My Colorado Journey
Back to pathway map
HealthcareTop JobColorado Talent Pipeline Report-aligned occupation with strong annual openings, growth, and wage signals.

Paramedic

Administer basic or advanced emergency medical care and assess injuries and illnesses. May administer medication intravenously, use equipment such as EKGs, or administer advanced life support to sick or injured individuals.

Annual openings

170

Median wage

$63,910

Typical education

One to two years post-secondary training.

Growth 2026–2032

+7%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

Interactive walkthrough

Explore My Colorado Journey Careers

See where to compare pay, job demand, locations, skills, education, and training for a Colorado career.

Open in a new tab

Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

One to two years post-secondary training.

Credential requirement

A certification is required for this job.

Credential detail

Must pass the Paramedic level of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians test.

Work experience

Entry-level

Experience detail

This can be an entry-level role; however, it is common for a person to work as an Emergency Medical Technician (or another entry-level Healthcare role) before they become a Paramedic.

Training

Completion of an approved Paramedic training course.

Paramedics have more advanced training, are able to provide more advanced care and usually have higher salaries than Emergency Medical Technicians.
Previous experience as a Paramedic is highly valued by Public Health employers when hiring an Emergency Preparedness Specialist.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Automation exposure

Low exposure

Tasks here lean on judgement and people skills that are hard to automate.

A typical day

  1. Administer drugs, orally or by injection, or perform intravenous procedures.
  2. Administer first aid treatment or life support care to sick or injured persons in prehospital settings.
  3. Assess nature and extent of illness or injury to establish and prioritize medical procedures.
  4. Attend training classes to maintain certification licensure, keep abreast of new developments in the field, or maintain existing knowledge.
  5. Comfort and reassure patients.
  6. Coordinate with treatment center personnel to obtain patients' vital statistics and medical history, to determine the circumstances of the emergency, and to administer emergency treatment.
Feedback