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What is a flight paramedic and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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No one knows what kind of emergency can happen on a flight, which is why airlines have flight paramedics on each flight to ensure that passengers receive emergency care if something were to happen.

The duty of a flight paramedic is to administer first aid and keep the patient stable until the flight reaches the ground again. They are also in charge of communicating with emergency personnel on the ground to ensure that the patient receives immediate care upon arrival at the airport. Furthermore, a flight paramedic is responsible for giving instructions to other flight personnel during an emergency.

If you think the job of a flight paramedic is the right one for you, the first thing that you would need to do is to obtain a degree in paramedicine. Afterward, you may need to pass a licensure or certification exam before you can become a fully-fledged paramedic. Then, you may also need to undergo special training to be able to perform your duties on a flight, which is a very different set-up than it is on the ground.

ScoreFlight ParamedicUS Average
Salary
3.9

Avg. Salary $50,261

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
10.0

Growth Rate 7%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.82%

Asian 4.52%

Black or African American 6.64%

Hispanic or Latino 15.57%

Unknown 5.71%

White 66.74%

Gender

female 17.15%

male 82.85%

Age - 34
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 34
Stress Level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
9.7

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
5.6

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Flight Paramedic career paths

Key steps to become a flight paramedic

  1. Explore flight paramedic education requirements

    Most common flight paramedic degrees

    Associate

    46.4 %

    Bachelor's

    33.8 %

    Certificate

    7.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific flight paramedic skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Advanced Life Support14.55%
    Patients12.12%
    EMT10.00%
    BLS9.86%
    Acls8.02%
  3. Complete relevant flight paramedic training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New flight paramedics learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a flight paramedic based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real flight paramedic resumes.
  4. Gain additional flight paramedic certifications

    Flight paramedic certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific flight paramedic certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for flight paramedics include Critical Care Paramedics Certification (CCP) and Flight Paramedic Certification (FPC).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research flight paramedic duties and 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.
  6. Prepare your flight paramedic resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your flight paramedic resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a flight paramedic resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Flight Paramedic Resume templates

    Build a professional Flight Paramedic resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Flight Paramedic resume.
    Flight Paramedic Resume
    Flight Paramedic Resume
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    Flight Paramedic Resume
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    Flight Paramedic Resume
  7. Apply for flight paramedic jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a flight paramedic job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Flight Paramedic Job

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Average flight paramedic salary

The average Flight Paramedic salary in the United States is $50,261 per year or $24 per hour. Flight paramedic salaries range between $40,000 and $62,000 per year.

Average Flight Paramedic Salary
$50,261 Yearly
$24.16 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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