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What is a combat medic and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
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There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a combat medic. For example, did you know that they make an average of $18.24 an hour? That's $37,945 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 7% and produce 18,700 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreCombat MedicUS Average
Salary
3.0

Avg. Salary $37,945

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
10.0

Growth Rate 7%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.81%

Asian 4.51%

Black or African American 6.54%

Hispanic or Latino 15.36%

Unknown 5.69%

White 67.09%

Gender

female 28.08%

male 71.92%

Age - 34
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 34
Stress Level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
9.7

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
5.6

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Combat Medic career paths

Key steps to become a combat medic

  1. Explore combat medic education requirements

    Most common combat medic degrees

    Bachelor's

    40.3 %

    Associate

    24.5 %

    High School Diploma

    21.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific combat medic skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patients17.49%
    Emergency Care10.64%
    Triage6.75%
    Medical Care5.16%
    IV4.44%
  3. Complete relevant combat medic training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New combat medics learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a combat medic based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real combat medic resumes.
  4. Gain additional combat medic certifications

    Combat medic certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific combat medic certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for combat medics include Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Basic Life Support for Healthcare and Public Safety (BLS).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research combat medic duties and responsibilities

    • Manage chart completion (ICD-9-CM and CPT coding/abstracting), chart assembly and analysis, patient admission and patient information privacy/security.
    • Regulate & enforce fire safety procedures, current CPR & BLS requirements for all40+ staff members.
    • Preform proper triage procedures on patients accordingly.
    • Receive extensive medical training and EMT-B certification.
  6. Prepare your combat medic resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your combat medic resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a combat medic resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Combat Medic Resume templates

    Build a professional Combat Medic resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Combat Medic resume.
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  7. Apply for combat medic jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a combat medic job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Combat Medic Job

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Average combat medic salary

The average Combat Medic salary in the United States is $37,945 per year or $18 per hour. Combat medic salaries range between $28,000 and $50,000 per year.

Average Combat Medic Salary
$37,945 Yearly
$18.24 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do combat medics rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

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1 Star

Combat Medic reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Pros

Researching and resolving complicated health insurance issues escaladed to my department. My department specifically handles the process for reporting a Consumer's loved ones Death to their health insurance company. A difficult task that requires a very empathetic person with clear understanding of the grief process. And the clear ability to communicate understanding.

Cons

I detest issues arising from technicle system errors with computer programs. I also, do not like to receive escalations with an incorrect High Qualifying Catagory Level. With little or no notes entered.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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