How to hire an emergency responder

How to hire an emergency responder, step by step

Here's a step-by-step emergency responder hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an emergency responder job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new emergency responder
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the emergency responder you need to hire. Certain emergency responder roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect emergency responder also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of emergency responders.

   Type of Emergency Responder	Description	Hourly rate
   Emergency Responder	Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics care for the sick or injured in emergency medical settings. People’s lives often depend on the quick reaction and competent care provided by these workers... Show more	$11-40
   Firefighter/Paramedic	Firefighters/paramedics handle emergency triage, ensure patient stability, and acute medical assessment. These professionals provide emergency medical care to infant, child, and adult trauma and medical patients based on assessment findings... Show more	$19-31
   Medic	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... Show more	$9-31

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • EMR
   • CPR
   • Patient Care
   • EMT
   • Medical Care
   • EMS
   • Life Support
   • Medical Services
   • Compassion
   • Emergency Situations
   • Medical Equipment
   • Hazardous Materials
   • Medical Emergencies

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Perform and manage procedures including splinting, suturing, electrocardiography and abscess incision and drainage.
   • Certify school employees in CPR and use of an a.
   • Respond to emergency situations, treat injure sick patients, treat at scene and or transport to hospital
   • Act as EMT for patient treatment.
   • Administer CPR, oxygen, bleeding control, stroke and cardiac arrest and train in childbirth.
   • Recommend patients' seek further medical attention when necessary.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your emergency responder job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An emergency responder can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, emergency responders' average salary in south dakota is 51% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level emergency responders 73% less than senior-level emergency responders.
   • Certifications. An emergency responder with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an emergency responder's salary.

   Average emergency responder salary

   $45,251yearly

   $21.76 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level emergency responder salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing an emergency responder job description

   An emergency responder job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an emergency responder job description:

   Emergency responder job description example

   Seabrook is a beautiful 98-acre continuing care retirement community located in the picturesque Monmouth County neighborhood of Tinton Falls-just six miles from the Jersey Shore. We're part of a growing network of communities developed and managed by Erickson Senior Living, a national provider of senior living and health care with campuses in 11 states-and growing.
   
   We are offering an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Certification Class and hiring Security and Emergency Services (SES) Officers for our gated retirement community to fill flex and full time openings.
   Compensation for SES Officers commensurate with experience starting at $18.
   
   The EMR Certification Class runs from November 3-18 here at Seabrook Village in Tinton Falls, NJ.
   Interested candidates should apply and will be selected for hire through an interview and prescreening process.Must have a valid Driver's LicenseStudents will be paid employees while attending class and have commitment to work as an SES Officer after successful completion of course.
   
   How you will make an impact as an SES Officer:
   Perform regular patrols of the property, provide relief staffing for the gatehouse, and respond to emergency and routine calls for service. Enforce all traffic and parking regulations.Respond to calls for service from dispatch and security.Respond to medical emergencies and provide efficient care utilizing all basic interventions as outlined in the ERP Protocols and the EL Integrated Healthcare Model.Follow up on reports of missing items, theft, vandalism, and other potential criminal activity.Utilize local police, fire, and EMS; effectively during emergencies. Completing thorough and detailed incident reports using our online report system.
   
   What we offer:
   Competitive benefits packages including medical, dental, vision, and PTO401k for all employees 18 and over. Company contribution up to 3% once eligible.Gated community with 24/7 security Free onsite parking at all of our communities and corporate offices Education assistance, certification reimbursement, and student loan refinancing partnership programs are available.Onsite medical centers, providing wellness visits and sick care for all employees over 18 years of age.A culture of diversity and inclusion, which builds on our values, vision, and mission.
   
   What you will need:
   High school diploma or GED is required.Prior experience in Security and/or Emergency Medical Services is preferred.Possess and maintain a valid driver's license.Current CPR for Healthcare Providers certification *** Covered in the EMR ClassCurrent Emergency Medical Responder certification *** Covered in the EMR Class
   *All required licenses and certifications must be maintained as a condition of employment*
   
   Erickson Senior Living, its affiliates, and managed communities are Equal Opportunity Employers and are committed to providing a workplace free of unlawful discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, veteran status, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right emergency responder for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your emergency responder job on Zippia to find and recruit emergency responder candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit emergency responders, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new emergency responder

   Once you have selected a candidate for the emergency responder position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new emergency responder first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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