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Firefighter/paramedic vs emergency room technician

The differences between firefighter/paramedics and emergency room technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a firefighter/paramedic has an average salary of $51,764, which is higher than the $35,967 average annual salary of an emergency room technician.

The top three skills for a firefighter/paramedic include patients, CPR and EMT. The most important skills for an emergency room technician are patients, EMT, and BLS.

Firefighter/paramedic vs emergency room technician overview

Firefighter/ParamedicEmergency Room Technician
Yearly salary$51,764$35,967
Hourly rate$24.89$17.29
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs33,534129,444
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 37%
Average age3636
Years of experience--

What does a firefighter/paramedic do?

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. They manage paramedic/EMT continuing education programs. They are trained in HAZMAT response and do exercises on a monthly basis. It is their responsibility to coordinate blood-borne infection and CPR yearly skills training and re-certification for county volunteers and employees.

What does an emergency room technician do?

An Emergency Room Technician works in emergency departments dealing with patients who suffer from medical emergencies. They also assist with transporting patients into and out of the department for different medical tests.

Firefighter/paramedic vs emergency room technician salary

Firefighter/paramedics and emergency room technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Firefighter/ParamedicEmergency Room Technician
Average salary$51,764$35,967
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $66,000Between $28,000 And $45,000
Highest paying CitySan Rafael, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyArgonne National Laboratory-
Best paying industryGovernment-

Differences between firefighter/paramedic and emergency room technician education

There are a few differences between a firefighter/paramedic and an emergency room technician in terms of educational background:

Firefighter/ParamedicEmergency Room Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 37%
Most common majorMedical TechnicianNursing
Most common college--

Firefighter/paramedic vs emergency room technician demographics

Here are the differences between firefighter/paramedics' and emergency room technicians' demographics:

Firefighter/ParamedicEmergency Room Technician
Average age3636
Gender ratioMale, 85.2% Female, 14.8%Male, 41.5% Female, 58.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 4.5% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 4.5% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between firefighter/paramedic and emergency room technician duties and responsibilities

Firefighter/paramedic example responsibilities.

  • Teach the public about fire safety, precept and instruct both paramedic and EMT students during there rides with the department.
  • Participate in continuing education opportunities for up-keeping of EMT certifications and recent medical procedures.
  • Train in HAZMAT response and perform monthly exercises.
  • Provide 9-1-1- BLS and ALS attention to the residents of the city of Chicago.
  • Respond to but not limit to fire, medical, haz-mat, aircraft emergency.
  • Identify persons requiring immediate care, provide life-saving ALS & BLS procedures for emergency care.
  • Show more

Emergency room technician example responsibilities.

  • Perform CPR and other emergency care as directed (O2therapy, EKG monitoring, use of other specialize medical equipment).
  • Ensure required brochures and pamphlets of HIPPA are available to patients in all clinics.
  • Transport patients from ER to various areas of the hospital such as radiology, oncology, or ICU.
  • Demonstrate compassion and sensitivity to patients and family.
  • Perform and interpret all electrocardiograms (ECG's) on cardiac patients.
  • Assist orthopedic MD and fellows with traction pins, casting, splinting and amputations.
  • Show more

Firefighter/paramedic vs emergency room technician skills

Common firefighter/paramedic skills
  • Patients, 7%
  • CPR, 6%
  • EMT, 6%
  • Fire Suppression, 5%
  • Medical Services, 5%
  • Firefighting, 5%
Common emergency room technician skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • EMT, 9%
  • BLS, 7%
  • Emergency Room, 6%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Phlebotomy, 6%

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