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Firefighter/paramedic vs flight paramedic

The differences between firefighter/paramedics and flight paramedics 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 $50,261 average annual salary of a flight paramedic.

The top three skills for a firefighter/paramedic include patients, CPR and EMT. The most important skills for a flight paramedic are advanced life support, patients, and EMT.

Firefighter/paramedic vs flight paramedic overview

Firefighter/ParamedicFlight Paramedic
Yearly salary$51,764$50,261
Hourly rate$24.89$24.16
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs33,53413,976
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 48%Associate Degree, 46%
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 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.

Firefighter/paramedic vs flight paramedic salary

Firefighter/paramedics and flight paramedics have different pay scales, as shown below.

Firefighter/ParamedicFlight Paramedic
Average salary$51,764$50,261
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $66,000Between $40,000 And $62,000
Highest paying CitySan Rafael, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyArgonne National Laboratory-
Best paying industryGovernment-

Differences between firefighter/paramedic and flight paramedic education

There are a few differences between a firefighter/paramedic and a flight paramedic in terms of educational background:

Firefighter/ParamedicFlight Paramedic
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 48%Associate Degree, 46%
Most common majorMedical TechnicianMedical Technician
Most common college--

Firefighter/paramedic vs flight paramedic demographics

Here are the differences between firefighter/paramedics' and flight paramedics' demographics:

Firefighter/ParamedicFlight Paramedic
Average age3636
Gender ratioMale, 85.2% Female, 14.8%Male, 82.8% Female, 17.2%
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, 6.6% 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 firefighter/paramedic and flight paramedic 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

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.
  • Show more

Firefighter/paramedic vs flight paramedic skills

Common firefighter/paramedic skills
  • Patients, 7%
  • CPR, 6%
  • EMT, 6%
  • Fire Suppression, 5%
  • Medical Services, 5%
  • Firefighting, 5%
Common flight paramedic skills
  • Advanced Life Support, 15%
  • Patients, 12%
  • EMT, 10%
  • BLS, 10%
  • Acls, 8%
  • EMS, 6%

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