Deciding to become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or a paramedic is a big career choice. You’re an essential worker who is there to help people every day. Your job is never boring, but it can be quite emotional and stressful at times. You’re called out to help people in the direst of situations, and you’ll be riding an adrenaline rush the whole time.
That said, the 9-1-1 life can get overwhelming, and being on-call all the time can lead to early burnout. How do you take your skills as an EMT or a paramedic and translate them into a different job opportunity? A career that isn’t so demanding, maybe pays better, has regular hours, and is something you love doing.
If you’ve been trained in Emergency Medical Services (EMS), there are many different jobs you can do that still make the most of your talents.
Key Takeaways:
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The top three alternative jobs for EMTs and Paramedics are surgical technician, flight paramedic, and registered nurse.
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The skills that are learned while training for an EMT and paramedic are easily adapted to work well in other medical fields.
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EMT and Paramedic workers are essential to helping treat and transporting patients in the field.
15 Alternative Jobs For EMTs and Paramedics
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Corporate campuses
Average Annual Salary: N/ASome companies are so large, and they have an entire campus with thousands of employees reporting to work each day. These businesses operate like little communities, and they need some of those same services. This is going to be a big change of pace from that of a busy EMT, but you might discover you love the slow lifestyle.
Expect to manage smaller health issues on your own, and large ones will be your responsibility until the paramedics arrive. You might find that you also have other duties to fill out your workday. You may serve as a security guard, handle worker’s compensation claims, or work in a different position in the company.
Job responsibilities include: N/A
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Laboratory or blood donation clinic
Average Annual Salary: N/AThese businesses like to hire paramedics because they already have medical training, but it goes deeper than that. They are trained to work with people, work quickly, and spot a problem earlier than someone without their training.
As an EMT who is sick of the rat race, you’ll appreciate regular hours with no on-call assignments at all. There will probably never be an emergency, and you’ll mainly have to deal with people being uncomfortable with needles.
Job responsibilities include:
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Identifying blood types and antibodies
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Supervising the collection and delivery of blood components
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Supporting doctors and nurses in blood transfusion therapy
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Surgical technician
Average Annual Salary: $52,000You’re there during surgery, lending a hand as needed. But the big pressure is on the surgeon. You’re just there to assist. Your training already has you on the right path, and you’ve proven that you’re good in the event of an emergency.
Job responsibilities include:
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Scrub with orthopedic, orthopedic spine, ENT, general, urology, vascular, and GYN surgeons
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Assist in the pre and post operative care of refractive surgery patients
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Act as liaison between technical staff, anesthesia residents, MD’s, CRNA’s, and hospital management
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Assist in a wide variety of surgical procedures including general, urology, orthopedic, podiatry, plastic and neurosurgery
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Event EMT/Emergency medical technician
Average Annual Salary: $40,000Whether you get a job at a venue or you work for a company that sends you out to different venues and different events, this is a sweet gig.
Many people with emergency medical training love this type of work because they like the adrenaline, but there are fewer trauma issues to deal with. You also get to catch some cool concerts, events, performances, and other shows.
Job responsibilities include:
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Acquire teamwork and leadership skills associate with managing situations from individual patients to mass-casualty incidences in trauma and medical emergencies
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Provide medical emergency response, non-emergency transport services, event medical services, manage transportation services and paramedic and EMT training
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Work as well in the emergency room setting with and under the direction of the RN charge nurse
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Respond to medical scenes and provide advance life support in a rural setting most often with only myself and an EMT
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Cruise ship
Average Annual Salary: N/ADo you like to travel the seas and live the life of a nomad? Then, being part of the medical crew on a cruise ship could be your dream come true.
There will be health emergencies on a cruise ship, you’ll encounter some accidents, but a lot of the care you’ll be providing will be handing out over-the-counter medications and helping people manage seasickness.
When you stop in a port, you might get to explore the city. You’ll become close with the rest of the crew and have the best cocktail party stories around.
Job responsibilities include:
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Triage emergency calls
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Transfer patients to the shipboard medical center
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Respond to any medical issues on board
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Check equipment on board and inventory medicines
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Amusement park worker
Average Annual Salary: $23,000Disney, Six Flags, Universal, and almost all of the other big amusement and theme parks around the country have some sort of on-site emergency services. You typically won’t be dealing with life and death situations, but your training will definitely come in handy.
There are heart attacks, broken arms and legs, heat exhaustion, and all sorts of emergencies that happen in an amusement park. Your immediate assistance until 9-1-1 arrives can save a life, or your care can solve the problem and save the day.
Working in an amusement park will typically be less stressful and less hectic, and you’re constantly surrounded by people having the best time of their lives. What’s better than spending every day in a theme park?
Job responsibilities include:
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Provide medical care to guests and team members within scope of professional training as needed
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Respond to First Aid calls and take appropriate control of the situation while considering the safety of those other associates and guests
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Complete documentation for all patients and incidents and maintain records accordingly per company policy
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Assist with park safety including building, rides and sidewalk audits, and report any discrepancies when found to the appropriate departments
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Sports arenas/Sports complex attendant
Average Annual Salary: $22,000
Sure, the teams have their specialized care team that is there if someone gets injured on the field. But most major sports arenas also have a group of trained medical professionals there to deal with health and other emergencies that occur in the stands and elsewhere. If you’re a big sports fan, this might be the dream job for you.
Job responsibilities include:
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Assess patient conditions and provide initial treatment
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Determine if patient needs to be transported to ER or trauma center
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Provide first-aid treatment, such as bandaging wounds
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Communicate with other emergency services, such as firefighters and police officers, to respond to calls for help
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Veterinary technician
Average Annual Salary: $32,000Veterinarians love hiring vet techs who have EMT experience. While you’ll still need some animal-specific training and education, you’re already well on your way. Walking into this profession, you know a lot about medicine and anatomy. But your biggest qualification is your ability to work under pressure.
Veterinary offices deal with a lot of emergencies and people who are very stressed out. You’re great at handling both, which is going to be a huge benefit to the veterinarian. Not only that, but you’re not bothered by injuries or the sight of blood. You’re ready to roll up your sleeves and help.
Job responsibilities include:
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Manage quality control on Idexx lab equipment
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Assist in emergency medicine, client education, surgical preparation, dentistry, radiography, and laboratory testing
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Perform emergency medical procedures and CPR for animals
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Perform veterinary laboratory techniques including: radiography, venipuncture, maintenance procedures, subcutaneous injections, and medication administration
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Flight paramedic
Average Annual Salary: $44,000Okay, so you’re still a paramedic, but you no longer have to deal with traffic as a Flight Paramedic. If you make it into one of the very few flight paramedic positions in this country, you’ll become one of the elite.
This group of lifesavers is there when time is of the essence, or the conditions make it impossible for other vehicles to get there. It’s high drama and an intense situation, but if you’ve got the chops for it, this can be a great chance that keeps you doing what you love.
Job responsibilities include:
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Fly to and from emergency medical situations
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Treat wounds and injuries in the field
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Assess patients and stabilize them
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Maintaining medical supplies and first aid equipment
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Registered nurse
Average Annual Salary: $63,000Being an RN or registered nurse is very similar to being an EMT. You need to be calm under pressure and swiftly react when there’s an emergency. You also need to be confident and competent and always stay alert.
You will need additional training to become a registered nurse, but your background makes you uniquely qualified for the job and will give you a head start when you go to school.
Nurses can make a good living, but there are always complaints about the long hours and the lack of respect from doctors. The best part is you’ll have job security, and your skills will always be in demand.
Job responsibilities include:
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Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly
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Work medical/surgical, telemetry, orthopedics, oncology, ambulatory surgery, and float pool positions
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Assist as circulating RN in operating room for obstetrical procedures and provide patient care during surgical recovery in PACU
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Develop and implement med/surg training program for improve performance with patient care
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Private duty nurse
Average Annual Salary: $47,000Most private nurses are registered nurses, so there will be more education involved, but you’ve got a head start once again. Private nurses work for one family or for one person. You can do this through an agency or be hired individually and work on a freelance basis.
Your EMT training will make you highly desirable as you can explain how you’re the most levelheaded person around when in an emergency. You also know how to take charge. If there is an emergency, you can step right in until the EMTs arrive or until you get additional assistance.
Many people love doing this because of the relationships that they build when it’s a one-on-one situation.
Job responsibilities include:
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Manage patients daily care including bathing, feeding and administer any medication
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Administer care to ICU and med/surg clients
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Care of ventilator and TPN in home private duty
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Assist with obtaining proper DME and permanent services which permit patients to safely manage their medical treatment from their own home
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CPR instructor
Average Annual Salary: $33,000Why not teach others how to be lifesavers? After riding with an ambulance crew for a long time, you might find that basic CPR skills are lacking in public or how crucial they are when someone has them.
Many EMTs have seen a regular person perform CPR and save a life long enough for them to get on the scene and take over. If you decide to make the career switch, you can train more people to learn these lifesaving skills.
Getting a CPR Instructor certificate will be a breeze for you. You’ll also find that your students trust you and value the experience you can share with them in the classroom. You can bring a lot to the table and be a great teacher.
Job responsibilities include:
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Prepare lessons, schedules and materials needed for classes.
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Demonstrate proper techniques and make sure students can perform them correctly
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Teach first aid to students and make sure they understand the basics
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Conduct mock disaster drills to test readiness of students
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Child care provider
Average Annual Salary: $24,000Whether you want to open your own daycare, work for a school or daycare, or want to become an in-home nanny, having an EMT background puts you at the top of the list.
Parents will be thrilled to find out that their child is being taught or cared for by someone who has EMT training and skills. Can you imagine what a relief it would be to know that if there is an emergency, your child won’t have to wait for the ambulance or fire truck to arrive? There’s already an EMT on-site.
Job responsibilities include:
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Provide first aid and CPR, prevention of the spread of blood borne pathogens and access of emergency services as needed
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Work in toddler room to infant room, picking up school age children after school
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Model appropriate social behaviors and encourage concern for others to cultivate development of interpersonal relationships and communication skills
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Demonstrate ability to handle emergency situations efficiently and contact on emergency numbers quickly
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Crime laboratory technician
Average Annual Salary: $41,000No more emergencies for you. You come into the picture long after the fact. You’ll need additional training to work as a crime lab technician, but you already have a great deal of medical experience. This makes you a great candidate for the job.
It also keeps you involved in critical situations if you enjoy the atmosphere and excitement. The best part is you have set hours, great pay, and good benefits.
Job responsibilities include:
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Setting up, maintaining, and cleaning laboratory equipment
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Analyzing experimental data and results
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Collecting and properly cataloging criminal evidence
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Examine physical evidence
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Emergency room technician
Average Annual Salary: $36,000This career isn’t too different than your old one, but it’s a great way to keep your training up to date and use all the skills you’ve gained on the job.
The benefits can mean a stable job, salary increase, better vacation time, and set hours. You’ll still be dealing with patients and handing them over to the doctors, but you won’t be out on the streets, which can also be a big benefit.
Job responsibilities include:
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Work with nurses and doctors and provide technical support for patients
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Transport patients to other departments within the hospital
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Document patients vital signs
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Making sure patients are properly fitted with crutches and teaching the patient how to use them
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Final Thoughts
Your medical knowledge, your level headed personality, and your ability to take charge in an emergency can open the doors to lots of jobs. If you want to get away from the medical field entirely, you still have some great attributes and assets that came from your experience.
If you’d like to stay involved in medicine but move away from trauma and being on call, you simply need to start looking. Some jobs might require a little training, but you’ve learned so much already, you can do it.
Author
Kristin Kizer is an award-winning writer, television and documentary producer, and content specialist who has worked on a wide variety of written, broadcast, and electronic publications. A former writer/producer for The Discovery Channel, she is now a freelance writer and delighted to be sharing her talents and time with the wonderful Zippia audience.
