Here are some potential job opportunities for EMTs and Paramedics. This list gives you an idea of some of the jobs you may be able to get once you get your EMT license, but does not include all EMT and Paramedic Jobs.
Ambulance Service
I’ll start with the most obvious. Depending on where you live, there may be private and public ambulance services available to work for. Public ambulances (city, county, etc.) usually do more 911 calls than private, but it depends on the location of the job. Working for is busy ambulance service that runs 911 calls is a great way to get experience if you plan to advance further in the medical field.
Fire Department
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Many Fire Departments across the nation require that you have your EMT license before you apply, but some don’t. If you want to be a Firefighter in the future, it is a good idea to get your EMT license whether they require it or not. Fire Departments are dispatched to medical calls far more than fire calls.
Fire Department jobs are very competitive across the nation. Many Paramedics that I know became a paramedic so they could be more competitive when they applied for a fire department.
Fire department jobs usually offer good benefits. You may need to work a 24 hours on/48 hours off schedule while working for a fire department, (average 60 hours a week), and you will probably also be required to come in on days off for training, and may be required to work forced overtime if your department is short-staffed.
Wild-Land Firefighter/EMT
You can become a Wild-Land Firefighter/EMT, and go out with a fire crew as the line EMT, or be dispatched as a single resource to an incident. There are different agencies that will hire Firefighters/EMTs (Federal, State, and some private). You will need to become certified as a wild-land firefighter (many agencies pay for this, and may pay you while you take the training). You may also need to take refresher training every year,
This is a good way to make a lot of money if you have a busy season, but some seasons are better than others. Your paycheck will depend on how the season went, and it is difficult to have another job at the same time (You will be dispatched with short notice with some agencies). You can be dispatched for up to 2 weeks at a time (working about 15 hour days), and you may have the option to stay for longer than that if they need you.
Hospital Jobs/Emergency Room Tech
There are a lot of Emergency Room jobs available across the nation available for EMTs. This is another great way to gain valuable experience as an EMT if you plan on advancing your career in the Medical field. Many hospitals also hire EMTs for other clinical positions as well.
A lot of the Emergency Techs that I have known have gone on to become Nurses, Physicians Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Respiratory Techs, Paramedics, etc…
There are a lot of hospitals that offer tuition assistance programs that help you cover the cost of college classes if you choose to take them (example: nursing school). Hospitals usually have good benefits for their employees as well.
EMT/Security
Some hospitals, casinos, and residential communities hire EMT/Security Officers. You will usually not get as much medical experience with these jobs as you would working on an ambulance or in an ER.
Flight Medic (Paramedic Only)
There are fixed wing (airplane) and helicopter Paramedic jobs across the nation available. The crew is usually made up of a Registered Nurse and a Paramedic (and pilot), and transport critical patients.These positions are usually competitive, and they want years of 911 experience with a busy ambulance service.
Miscellaneous EMT Jobs
There are many other EMT jobs than those listed above. Ski Resorts, Medical Clinics, Work Sites, Etc… are examples of other EMT Jobs. You can do a local job search in your area to find EMT jobs available to you.
Conclusion
For more information about EMTs, pay, and job information, you can read another article I wrote here. If you would like more information on how to become an EMT, you can read my article here about how to become certified in all 50 States. For gear I recommend for new EMTs, read my article here. Thanks for Reading!