Paramedic demographics and statistics in the US
Paramedic demographics research summary. Zippia estimates paramedic demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our paramedic estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about paramedics after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 172,114 paramedics currently employed in the United States.
- 31.6% of all paramedics are women, while 68.4% are men.
- The average paramedic age is 36 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of paramedics is White (67.2%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (15.4%), Black or African American (6.6%) and Unknown (5.5%).
- Paramedics are most in-demand in Kansas City, MO.
- Arlington, MA pays an annual average wage of $54,605, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women paramedics earned 97% of what men earned.
- West Virginia is the best state for paramedics to live.
- Paramedics are 67% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to government companies.
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Paramedic demographics by:
Paramedic gender statistics
31.6% of paramedics are women and 68.4% of paramedics are men.
- Male, 68.4%
- Female, 31.6%
Paramedic gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 68.4% |
| Female | 31.6% |
Paramedic gender pay gap
Women earn 97¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male Income
$48,098
Female Income
$46,654
Paramedic gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in paramedic positions over time. Currently, 31.6% of paramedics are female.
Paramedic gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 72.72% | 27.28% |
| 2011 | 72.99% | 27.01% |
| 2012 | 72.27% | 27.73% |
| 2013 | 71.09% | 28.91% |
| 2014 | 73.51% | 26.49% |
| 2015 | 73.31% | 26.69% |
| 2016 | 70.86% | 29.14% |
| 2017 | 69.96% | 30.04% |
| 2018 | 68.43% | 31.57% |
| 2019 | 68.59% | 31.41% |
| 2020 | 67.62% | 32.38% |
| 2021 | 68.43% | 31.57% |
Paramedic related jobs gender ratio
We compared paramedics with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, guitar technician and armorer technician have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Radiographer, Mammographer | 2% | 98% |
| Mammographer | 3% | 97% |
| Lead Mammographer | 3% | 97% |
| Paramedic | 68% | 32% |
| Driver/Technician | 93% | 7% |
| Armorer Technician | 95% | 5% |
| Guitar Technician | 96% | 4% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Paramedic demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among paramedics is White, which makes up 67.2% of all paramedics. Comparatively, 15.4% of paramedics are Hispanic or Latino and 6.6% of paramedics are Black or African American.
- White, 67.2%
- Hispanic or Latino, 15.4%
- Black or African American, 6.6%
- Unknown, 5.5%
- Asian, 4.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Paramedic Race
| Paramedic Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 67.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 15.4% |
| Black or African American | 6.6% |
| Unknown | 5.5% |
| Asian | 4.5% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Paramedic race and ethnicity over time
See how paramedic racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Paramedic race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 75.22% | 6.50% | 2.00% | 13.30% |
| 2011 | 74.77% | 6.92% | 1.56% | 13.52% |
| 2012 | 75.87% | 6.45% | 1.49% | 12.90% |
| 2013 | 74.88% | 6.38% | 2.60% | 12.96% |
| 2014 | 75.46% | 7.10% | 2.48% | 11.62% |
| 2015 | 73.16% | 7.50% | 3.10% | 13.44% |
| 2016 | 72.38% | 7.73% | 2.67% | 13.75% |
| 2017 | 72.27% | 7.10% | 2.64% | 14.59% |
| 2018 | 71.37% | 6.45% | 3.15% | 14.84% |
| 2019 | 71.73% | 6.94% | 3.48% | 14.49% |
| 2020 | 69.28% | 6.26% | 3.65% | 14.62% |
| 2021 | 67.23% | 6.57% | 4.51% | 15.42% |
Paramedic wage gap by race
According to our data, asian paramedics have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Unknown paramedics have the lowest average salary at $47,411.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $47,411 |
| White | $48,120 |
| Black or African American | $47,701 |
| Asian | $48,834 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $48,436 |
Average paramedic age
See how the average age of paramedics varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Paramedic age by race and gender
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 30 | 35.5 |
| White | 36 | 34 |
| Black or African American | 33 | 31 |
| Asian | 31.5 | 32 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 31 | 29 |
Paramedic age breakdown
The average age of paramedics is 40+ years years old, representing 35% of the paramedic population.
Paramedic age breakdown
| Paramedic Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 35% |
| 30-40 years | 31% |
| 20-30 years | 33% |
Paramedic educational attainment
The most common degree for paramedics is associate degree, with 45% of paramedics earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 30% and bachelor's degree degree at 7%.
- Associate, 45%
- Bachelor's, 30%
- High School Diploma, 7%
- Master's, 5%
- Other Degrees, 13%
Paramedics by degree level
| Paramedic Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Associate | 45% |
| Bachelor's | 30% |
| High School Diploma | 7% |
| Master's | 5% |
| Other Degrees | 13% |
Paramedic Jobs You Might Like
Paramedic wage gap by degree level
According to the data, paramedics with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $47,133 annually. With a Associate degree, paramedics earn a median annual income of $46,290 compared to $43,573 for paramedics with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $43,573 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $47,133 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $46,290 |
Paramedic employment statistics
Most paramedics work for a private in the health care industry.
Company size where paramedics work
Below, you can see the size of companies where paramedics work.
Paramedic jobs by employer size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 8% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 20% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 32% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 9% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 21% |
| > 10,000 employees | 10% |
Paramedic jobs by company type
Employees with the paramedic job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most paramedics prefer to work at private companies over government companies.
Paramedic jobs by sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 3% |
| Public | 4% |
| Private | 67% |
| Government | 26% |
Paramedic jobs by industry
The most common industries for paramedics are health care, government and professional.
Paramedic industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Health Care | 53% |
| Government | 22% |
| Professional | 4% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Manufacturing | 2% |
| Start-up | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Retail | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Fortune 500 | 1% |
Paramedic turnover and employment statistics
Paramedic unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for paramedics between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Unemployment rate
Paramedic unemployment rate by year
| Year | Paramedic Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3.80% |
| 2011 | 3.17% |
| 2012 | 4.06% |
| 2013 | 3.41% |
| 2014 | 3.55% |
| 2015 | 1.97% |
| 2016 | 1.64% |
| 2017 | 2.14% |
| 2018 | 1.91% |
| 2019 | 1.87% |
| 2020 | 2.45% |
| 2021 | 1.95% |
Average paramedic tenure
The average paramedic stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 19,778 paramedics resumes in Zippia's database.
Paramedic tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 13% |
| 1-2 years | 27% |
| 3-4 years | 16% |
| 5-7 years | 20% |
| 8-10 years | 8% |
| 11+ years | 16% |
Paramedic LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of paramedics that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Guitar Technician | 5.02% | 29,832 |
| Contract Laboratory Technician | 8.24% | 51,701 |
| Paramedic | 8.30% | - |
| Medical Record Consultant | 9.29% | 55,953 |
| Certified Optician | 12.53% | 38,462 |
| Anesthesia Technician | 12.80% | 78,132 |
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | 21.93% | 56,975 |
Similar paramedic jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Guitar Technician | 5.02% | 29,832 |
| Contract Laboratory Technician | 8.24% | 51,701 |
| Medical Record Consultant | 9.29% | 55,953 |
| Certified Optician | 12.53% | 38,462 |
| Anesthesia Technician | 12.80% | 78,132 |
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | 21.93% | 56,975 |
Foreign languages spoken by paramedics
The most common foreign language among paramedics is Spanish at 66.1%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 6.2% and Arabic is the third-most popular at 4.5%.
- Spanish, 66.1%
- French, 6.2%
- Arabic, 4.5%
- German, 3.7%
- Portuguese, 2.9%
- Other, 16.6%
Paramedic languages spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 66.1% |
| French | 6.2% |
| Arabic | 4.5% |
| German | 3.7% |
| Portuguese | 2.9% |
| Other | 16.6% |
