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US job code 29-2043People-facingMedium change by 2035

Paramedics

Machines can already do 16% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 39%. The job changes before it disappears.

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Share of the work machines can do

Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050

100%75%50%25%20262035205016%Half: 2039

Paramedics in 2026: the short answer

  • Today: machines can do 16% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
  • Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2039, and 39% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
  • Size: 100,610 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $60,600 a year.
  • Contact with people: it scores 91% for contact with people.
  • Also called: Critical Care Paramedic, Firefighter Paramedic, First Responder, Flight Paramedic.

Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.

Machines can do today
16%of the tasks, 2026
By 2035
39%half the tasks by 2039
US median pay
$60,600a year, May 2025
US jobs
101k100,610 people
Contact with people
91%how people-facing
Step 1AnticipateWhat is changing? Free to everyone

How the work changes, task by task

The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.

TaskShare of the dayMachines can do2026 to 2035
Observe, record, and report to physician the patient's condition or injury, the treatment provided, and reactions to drugs or treatment19%
42% to 67%
Assess nature and extent of illness or injury to establish and prioritize medical procedures15%
3% to 25%
Administer first aid treatment or life support care to sick or injured persons in prehospital settings15%
3% to 25%
Coordinate work with other emergency medical team members or police or fire department personnel7%
27% to 46%
Comfort and reassure patients7%
9% to 23%
Operate equipment, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), external defibrillators, or bag valve mask resuscitators, in advanced life support environments7%
3% to 25%
Administer drugs, orally or by injection, or perform intravenous procedures7%
18% to 51%
Coordinate with treatment center personnel to obtain patients' vital statistics and medical history, to determine the circumstances of the emergency, and to administer emergency treatment7%
3% to 25%
Step 2AssessWhy should I care? Free to everyone

The skills this job runs on

The skills paramedics use most, most used first.

Adaptability and resilienceProfessionalism and work ethicSelf-managementPhysical and manualCollaborationEmotional intelligenceMoral intelligence and integrityClinical careInterpersonal skillsLeadershipTeaching and trainingCommunicationCritical thinking and problem solvingAnalysis and dataLearning aptitude and mindsetInterdisciplinary thinking

Safer jobs nearby

Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.

Step 3ActWhat do I do about it? Free plan and up
What do I do about it

What should you do about it?

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Questions

When will machines do half of the tasks of Paramedics?

Machines can do half of its tasks by 2039. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.

Will AI take the job of paramedics?

Machines can do 16% of the tasks of paramedics today and 39% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.

Sources and citing

Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 29-2043.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.

Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Paramedics: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/paramedics/