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Emergency medical technician vs medic

The differences between emergency medical technicians and medics can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an emergency medical technician has an average salary of $39,743, which is higher than the $35,815 average annual salary of a medic.

The top three skills for an emergency medical technician include patients, CPR and EMS. The most important skills for a medic are patients, patient care, and customer service.

Emergency medical technician vs medic overview

Emergency Medical TechnicianMedic
Yearly salary$39,743$35,815
Hourly rate$19.11$17.22
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs137,61717,384
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 31%
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 medic do?

A medic, or often called combat medic, is a healthcare professional responsible for providing continuous medical care to military personnel who are injured on the battlefield. In the absence of physicians, medics are typically co-located with the combat troops. This is so that military men's movement is convenient and administering emergency medical treatment to battlefield casualties is achievable. They provide combat lifesaver training courses to military personnel and manage medical supplies and equipment. To be a medic, candidates must take basic combat and advanced individual training, including patient care.

Emergency medical technician vs medic salary

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

Emergency Medical TechnicianMedic
Average salary$39,743$35,815
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $59,000Between $19,000 And $66,000
Highest paying CityNew Brunswick, NJNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew JerseyNew York
Best paying companyLewistown HospitalRegeneron
Best paying industryGovernmentGovernment

Differences between emergency medical technician and medic education

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

Emergency Medical TechnicianMedic
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Most common majorMedical TechnicianNursing
Most common college--

Emergency medical technician vs medic demographics

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

Emergency Medical TechnicianMedic
Average age3636
Gender ratioMale, 60.9% Female, 39.1%Male, 43.4% Female, 56.6%
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, 15.4% Asian, 4.5% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between emergency medical technician and medic 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.
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Medic example responsibilities.

  • Demonstrate clinical competency and compassion in providing care, using technology, performing procedures and managing emergencies.
  • Provide Foley catheter care to patients.
  • Provide instruction to EMT's and firefighters in emergency services training, basic fire prevention and protection methods.
  • Perform structural firefighting and rescue operations to eliminate or reduce fire hazards, protect people, property and the environment.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in establishing patient medical histories, taking accurate vital signs, venipuncture, injections, and various diagnostic procedures.
  • Monitor, perform, and interpret EKGs.
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Emergency medical technician vs medic skills

Common emergency medical technician skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • CPR, 11%
  • EMS, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Life Support, 5%
  • EMT-B, 3%
Common medic skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Patient Care, 10%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • BLS, 6%
  • Vital Signs, 4%
  • Data Entry, 3%

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