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
BLS median wage
$63,910
Typical education
One to two years post-secondary training.
10-year growth
+7%
Career requirements
What does this career require?
The education, credentials, and on-the-job competencies Colorado employers expect for this role.
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.
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
- Administer drugs, orally or by injection, or perform intravenous procedures.
- Administer first aid treatment or life support care to sick or injured persons in prehospital settings.
- Assess nature and extent of illness or injury to establish and prioritize medical procedures.
- Attend training classes to maintain certification licensure, keep abreast of new developments in the field, or maintain existing knowledge.
- Comfort and reassure patients.
- 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.