Emergency Medical Technician

What it pays in the U.S.

Assess injuries and illnesses and administer basic emergency medical care. May transport injured or sick persons to medical facilities.

Wage figures are 2025 survey data for United States, shown nationally because no state figure was reported. They describe what people in this job earn now, not what any one person will be offered.

Read the full Occupational Outlook Handbook entry from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Licensing, by state

Licensing is set by each state, so there is no national answer. Choose a state above to see which licenses it requires for this career, or look one up with the CareerOneStop License Finder.

Certifications employers recognize

These are national certifications, issued by industry bodies rather than a state. Most are optional, but they are how you prove skill to an employer.

• AED Certification

  American Red Cross · Skill

• Emergency Medical Technician

  National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians · Core

• Certified Community Paramedic

  International Board of Specialty Certification · Core

• Certified Tactical Responder

  International Board of Specialty Certification · Advanced

• Emergency Medical Responder

  National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians · Core

Apprenticeships, by state

Registered apprenticeships pay you while you train. Each state runs its own registration office, which is where to start when you want to find an open program.

Choose a state above to see the offices that register apprenticeships there.

Search open programs directly at apprenticeship.gov.