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Firefighter/paramedic vs medic

The differences between firefighter/paramedics and medics 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 $35,815 average annual salary of a medic.

The top three skills for a firefighter/paramedic include patients, CPR and EMT. The most important skills for a medic are patients, patient care, and customer service.

Firefighter/paramedic vs medic overview

Firefighter/ParamedicMedic
Yearly salary$51,764$35,815
Hourly rate$24.89$17.22
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs33,53417,384
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 31%
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 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.

Firefighter/paramedic vs medic salary

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

Firefighter/ParamedicMedic
Average salary$51,764$35,815
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $66,000Between $19,000 And $66,000
Highest paying CitySan Rafael, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew York
Best paying companyArgonne National LaboratoryRegeneron
Best paying industryGovernmentGovernment

Differences between firefighter/paramedic and medic education

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

Firefighter/ParamedicMedic
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Most common majorMedical TechnicianNursing
Most common college--

Firefighter/paramedic vs medic demographics

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

Firefighter/ParamedicMedic
Average age3636
Gender ratioMale, 85.2% Female, 14.8%Male, 43.4% Female, 56.6%
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, 15.4% Asian, 4.5% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between firefighter/paramedic and medic 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

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.
  • Show more

Firefighter/paramedic vs medic skills

Common firefighter/paramedic skills
  • Patients, 7%
  • CPR, 6%
  • EMT, 6%
  • Fire Suppression, 5%
  • Medical Services, 5%
  • Firefighting, 5%
Common medic skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Patient Care, 10%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • BLS, 6%
  • Vital Signs, 4%
  • Data Entry, 3%

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