Ambulance Officers and Paramedics

ANZSCO ID 4111

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
27,000
Future Growth
8.4%
Weekly Earnings
$2,333
Full-Time Share
83%
Female Share
37%
Average age
40

Summary

Ambulance Officers and Paramedics provide emergency health care and transport for injured, sick, infirm and aged persons to medical facilities.

Tasks

  • attending accidents, emergencies and requests for medical assistance

  • assessing health of patients, determining need for assistance, and assessing specialised needs and factors affecting patients' conditions

  • performing therapies and administering drugs according to protocol

  • resuscitating and defibrillating patients and operating life-support equipment

  • transporting accident victims to medical facilities

  • transporting sick and disabled persons to and from medical facilities for specialised treatment and rehabilitation

  • instructing community groups and essential service workers in first aid

  • attending public gatherings and sporting events where accidents and other health emergencies may occur

  • ensuring that ambulances are adequately maintained and stocked with medical supplies, and that equipment is in good working order

  • preparing written reports on the state of patients' injuries and treatment provided

Characteristics

Job Type
Community And Personal Service Workers
Skill Level
High skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
Below average
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • University
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
Interests
  • Practical
  • Analytical
  • Enterprising
  • Helping
Physical Demand
  • Sedentary
  • Light
  • Medium
  • Heavy
  • Very Heavy

Outlook

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers:

  • is expected to grow strongly
  • is likely to reach 21,000 by 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.

Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.

Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.

Projected Change
8.4%
(or 1,600 jobs)
From
19,400
in 2021
To
21,000
in 2026

Number of Workers

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Year Employment
2011 15,700
2012 17,700
2013 13,300
2014 10,100
2015 18,500
2016 17,400
2017 19,600
2018 19,200
2019 17,100
2020 16,800
2021 19,400
2026 21,000

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 86% of people employed as Ambulance Officers and Paramedics work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 20 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 48 hours per week in their main job. This is 4 hours more than the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    More than three-quarters of workers regularly work overtime or extra hours (either paid or unpaid).

    Median full-time earnings are $2,333 per week, this is much higher than the all jobs median ($1,593):

    • 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,886
    • 1 in 4 earn more than $2,788

    Median hourly earnings are $56, this is more than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).

    Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Overtime hours: ABS, Characteristics of Employment, 2021. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.

Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Earnings Ambulance Officers and Paramedics All Jobs Average
Full-Time Earnings 2,333 1,593
Total Earnings 0 0

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.


Industries

Main industries

1
Health Care and Social Assistance
96.7%
2
Public Administration and Safety
1.7%
3
Transport, Postal and Warehousing
1.1%
4
Mining
0.6%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

28.2% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

29.0% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

23.4% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

7.3% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

7.5% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

2.4% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

1.1% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

1.0% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Ambulance Officers and Paramedics All Jobs Average
NSW 28.2 31.6
VIC 29.0 25.6
QLD 23.4 20.0
SA 7.3 7.0
WA 7.5 10.8
TAS 2.4 2.0
NT 1.1 1.0
ACT 1.0 1.9


  • Around 53% of Ambulance Officers and Paramedics live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.

    Victoria and Victoria have a large share of employment relative to their population size.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
40
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
37%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Ambulance Officers and Paramedics is 40 years. This is the same as the all jobs average.

    A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.

    Females make up 37% of the workforce. This is 11 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.

Age Profile (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Ambulance Officers and Paramedics All Jobs Average
15-19 0.1 5.0
20-24 6.8 9.3
25-34 29.3 22.9
35-44 25.5 22.0
45-54 24.2 21.6
55-59 8.5 9.0
60-64 3.9 6.0
65 and Over 1.6 4.2
Median Age 40 40

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Employment Pathways

Education, training and experience

A bachelor degree in paramedicine, health science or an equivalent course is usually needed to work as an Ambulance Officer or Paramedic. Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses may be available for some Ambulance Officer specialisations (volunteer paramedics and non-emergency patient transport officer for example).

Registration with the Paramedicine Board of Australia is required.

Visit

  • Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
  • ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Health Industry VET training pathways.

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Type of Qualification Ambulance Officers and Paramedics All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 7.8 10.1
Bachelor degree 48.3 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 31.3 11.6
Certificate III/IV 7.1 21.1
Year 12 3.2 18.1
Year 11 0.7 4.8
Year 10 and below 1.6 12.5

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.


Skills and Knowledge

Employers look for Ambulance Officers and Paramedics who are caring, compassionate and empathetic and can communicate clearly with a diverse range of people.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 57%

    Critical thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • 57%

    Active learning

    Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.

  • 57%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 55%

    Active listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • 55%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 55%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 55%

    Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.

  • 54%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 52%

    Serving others

    Looking for ways to help people.

  • 52%

    Judgment and decision making

    Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.

  • 50%

    Science

    Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

  • 48%

    Learning strategies

    Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.

  • 46%

    Complex problem solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • 46%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 45%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 45%

    Operation monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

  • 43%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 43%

    Systems evaluation

    Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.

  • 43%

    Time management

    Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.

  • 41%

    Management of personnel resources

    Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 89%

    Customer and personal service

    Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.

  • 74%

    Education and training

    Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • 71%

    Psychology

    Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.

  • 70%

    Medicine and dentistry

    Diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.

  • 69%

    English language

    English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • 65%

    Public safety and security

    Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.

  • 59%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 58%

    Therapy and counselling

    Diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.

  • 54%

    Transportation

    Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.

  • 54%

    Chemistry

    Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.

  • 51%

    Administration and management

    Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.

  • 50%

    Biology

    Plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.

  • 49%

    Mechanical

    Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • 48%

    Law and government

    How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.

  • 47%

    Clerical

    Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.

  • 46%

    Computers and electronics

    Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • 43%

    Telecommunications

    Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

  • 42%

    Communications and media

    Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.

  • 41%

    Personnel and human resources

    Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.

  • 39%

    Geography

    Describing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 59%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 59%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 59%

    Problem spotting

    Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.

  • 57%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 57%

    Inductive reasoning

    Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.

  • 57%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.

  • 55%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 55%

    Near vision

    See details that are up-close (within a few feet).

  • 55%

    Sorting or ordering

    Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • 54%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

  • 54%

    Written comprehension

    Read and understand written information.

  • 52%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 52%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 52%

    Flexibility of closure

    See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.

  • 52%

    Perceptual speed

    Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

  • 50%

    Manual dexterity

    Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

  • 50%

    Multilimb coordination

    Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.

  • 50%

    Response orientation

    Quickly choose the right movement of the hand, foot, or other body part when there are two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures).

  • 48%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 46%

    Control precision

    Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.


Activities

These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.

  • 86%

    Helping and caring for others

    Providing personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.

  • 81%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

    Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.

  • 78%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

    Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.

  • 77%

    Handling and moving objects

    Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.

  • 76%

    Working with the public

    Greeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.

  • 73%

    Documenting or recording information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

  • 72%

    Making decisions and solving problems

    Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.

  • 72%

    Training and teaching others

    Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.

  • 72%

    Doing physically active work

    Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.

  • 71%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 70%

    Looking for changes over time

    Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.

  • 67%

    Communicating within a team

    Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 66%

    Communicating with the public

    Giving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 66%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

    Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

  • 62%

    Collecting and organising information

    Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.

  • 61%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 57%

    Checking for errors or defects

    Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.

  • 56%

    Working with computers

    Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

  • 52%

    Checking compliance with standards

    Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

  • 50%

    Explaining things to people

    Helping people to understand and use information.


Interests and demands

Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

  • 90%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

  • 67%

    Analytical

    Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

  • 62%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

  • 57%

    Enterprising

    Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • 38%

    Administrative

    Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.

  • 19%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 86%

    Relationships

    Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • 76%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

  • 57%

    Achievement

    Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

  • 57%

    Independence

    Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.

  • 57%

    Recognition

    Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.

  • 55%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 97%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 97%

    Physically close to people

    Work physically close to other people.

  • 97%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 96%

    Outdoors, exposed to weather

    Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.

  • 96%

    Contact with the public

    Work with customers or the public.

  • 94%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 94%

    Health and safety of others

    Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.

  • 92%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

    Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.

  • 92%

    Consequence of error

    Work where mistakes have serious consequences.

  • 92%

    Contact with people

    Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.

  • 92%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 91%

    Disease or infection

    Be exposed to disease or infections.

  • 91%

    In an enclosed vehicle or equipment

    Work in a closed vehicle (e.g., car).

  • 91%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 91%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 90%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 90%

    Electronic mail

    Use electronic mail.

  • 88%

    Lead or coordinate a team

    Lead others to do work activities.

  • 86%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

    Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.

  • 85%

    Responsible for outcomes

    Take responsibility for the results of other people's work.

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 29-2041.00 - Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics.


Links and downloads

Back to top