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Emergency medical technician vs flight paramedic

The differences between emergency medical technicians and flight paramedics can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a flight paramedic has an average salary of $50,261, which is higher than the $39,743 average annual salary of an emergency medical technician.

The top three skills for an emergency medical technician include patients, CPR and EMS. The most important skills for a flight paramedic are advanced life support, patients, and EMT.

Emergency medical technician vs flight paramedic overview

Emergency Medical TechnicianFlight Paramedic
Yearly salary$39,743$50,261
Hourly rate$19.11$24.16
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs137,61713,976
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Associate Degree, 46%
Average age3636
Years of experience--

What does an emergency medical technician do?

Emergency medical technicians or EMTs are skilled medical professionals who act as first responders to injured or sick patients. They apply first aid or do emergency medical procedures upon arriving at the area where the emergency happened. For serious or grave injuries, they do not have complete medical equipment at their disposal, so they have limited capacities on the field. Despite that, EMTs do their best to ensure that patients would reach the hospital for such high-risk cases. EMTs are expected to be calm under pressure and have extensive knowledge of first aid and of basic medical procedures.

What does a flight paramedic do?

Flight Paramedics are responsible for providing emergency medical care to patients while in transport to a medical facility. Their duties include carrying out pre-hospital life support medical care, managing patient care documentation, participate in clinical experiences, conduct equipment maintenance, reporting failure of equipment, and maintaining supplies. They are responsible for healthcare referrals, outreach education activities, pre-mission checklists, and employee orientation. Flight Paramedics also contribute to the departmental quality by undertaking research and ensure operations comply with safety standards.

Emergency medical technician vs flight paramedic salary

Emergency medical technicians and flight paramedics have different pay scales, as shown below.

Emergency Medical TechnicianFlight Paramedic
Average salary$39,743$50,261
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $59,000Between $40,000 And $62,000
Highest paying CityNew Brunswick, NJ-
Highest paying stateNew Jersey-
Best paying companyLewistown Hospital-
Best paying industryGovernment-

Differences between emergency medical technician and flight paramedic education

There are a few differences between an emergency medical technician and a flight paramedic in terms of educational background:

Emergency Medical TechnicianFlight Paramedic
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Associate Degree, 46%
Most common majorMedical TechnicianMedical Technician
Most common college--

Emergency medical technician vs flight paramedic demographics

Here are the differences between emergency medical technicians' and flight paramedics' demographics:

Emergency Medical TechnicianFlight Paramedic
Average age3636
Gender ratioMale, 60.9% Female, 39.1%Male, 82.8% Female, 17.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 4.5% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 4.5% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between emergency medical technician and flight paramedic duties and responsibilities

Emergency medical technician example responsibilities.

  • Provide medical emergency response, non-emergency transport services, event medical services, manage transportation services and paramedic and EMT training.
  • Demonstrate manual dexterity, with ability to perform all tasks relate to quality patient care.
  • Coordinate emergency transport of patients while providing treatment and triage in a variety of emergency situations.
  • File reports for patients, restock ambulance and supplies at base, have ACLS training, injection.
  • Handled/administered all types of ACLS medications to pediatric, adult and geriatric patients on a daily basis.
  • Assist nurse/physician with procedure such as suturing, lumbar puncture, catherization, casting/reduction, and application of restraints.
  • Show more

Flight paramedic example responsibilities.

  • Administer and manage advanced cardiac life support including medications and intubation of compromise airways.
  • Manage critically ill/injure patients effectively with rapid assessments, aggressive resuscitation, packaging and transport to appropriate definitive care emergency departments.
  • Schedule EMT's and paramedics for monthly shifts and training.
  • Coauthor unit medical protocols the paramedic skillset alongside AEMT and EMT.
  • Provide critical and ALS care and emergency service on domestic and international flights.
  • Provide all ALS care need to maintain a stable patient during the flight.
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Emergency medical technician vs flight paramedic skills

Common emergency medical technician skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • CPR, 11%
  • EMS, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Life Support, 5%
  • EMT-B, 3%
Common flight paramedic skills
  • Advanced Life Support, 15%
  • Patients, 12%
  • EMT, 10%
  • BLS, 10%
  • Acls, 8%
  • EMS, 6%

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