EMT and Paramedic Jobs in San Jose, CA
EMT and paramedic work in San Jose runs through ambulance companies and fire departments, with AMR alone employing about 480 paramedics and EMTs in Santa Clara County. Entry EMT postings start near $18.50 to $27 an hour. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get certified.
Current EMT Openings in San Jose, CA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
EMT and Paramedic Work in San Jose
Most EMT jobs in San Jose are on ambulances. AMR runs 911 ambulance service in Santa Clara County from its base on Vander Way in North San Jose, and private operators such as Royal Ambulance and NORCAL Ambulance staff interfacility and critical care crews moving patients between Valley Medical Center, Good Samaritan, Regional Medical Center in East San Jose and nursing facilities across the valley.
The fire service is the other big employer: the San Jose Fire Department hires through a recruit academy, and Santa Clara County Fire recruits on EMT and paramedic tracks for the West Valley. Pay beats the state: the BLS 2025 San Jose metro median is $26.27 an hour for EMTs against $22.30 statewide, and $40.61 for paramedics against $35.86. Much of the work runs along US 101, I-280 and I-680.
Top San Jose Employers Hiring EMTs and Paramedics
San Jose EMTs and paramedics work for ambulance operators and fire departments:
- AMR (American Medical Response) - provides 911 emergency ambulance service in Santa Clara County from Vander Way in San Jose and employs about 480 paramedics and EMTs in the county.
- Royal Ambulance - the Bay Area ambulance company is hiring full-time and part-time EMTs for its Santa Clara County operation in San Jose.
- NORCAL Ambulance - hires EMTs in San Jose and Sunnyvale for basic, advanced and critical care transport shifts, including NICU and PICU runs.
- San Jose Fire Department - recruits Firefighter Recruits for its academy and pays a paramedic premium to eligible firefighters.
- Santa Clara County Fire Department - recruits firefighter engineers on EMT and paramedic tracks for Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Saratoga and nearby towns.
EMT and Paramedic Salaries in San Jose
- Entry level: about $18.50 to $27 an hour for new ambulance EMTs, based on current San Jose postings.
- Experienced: roughly $32 to $45 an hour for licensed paramedics, with night and specialty shift differentials on top.
- Senior / fire service: $55 to $64 or more an hour for top paramedics, and San Jose firefighters earn about $124,000 a year at Step 1 after the academy, before paramedic premium pay.
These are estimates from BLS 2025 metro data and current local postings. The paramedic license is the biggest pay jump. NORCAL Ambulance adds a night differential and $1.50 to $3 an hour for NICU, PICU, ALS and critical care shifts, and fire departments pay far more than ambulance work but hire through competitive academies.
How to Become an EMT or Paramedic in San Jose
To work as an EMT you need a California EMT certification. You complete an approved EMT course, pass the National Registry (NREMT) EMT exam, and apply for certification through the local EMS agency, which here is the Santa Clara County EMS Agency. Mission College in Santa Clara runs EMT theory, lab and clinical courses each fall and spring, with an American Heart Association BLS card as the prerequisite.
Paramedics are licensed by the state, not the county. The California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) issues the paramedic license, and you then get accredited by the county where you work. Foothill College in Los Altos Hills runs a CAAHEP-accredited, 15 to 18 month paramedic program that requires California EMT certification and at least three months of full-time EMS experience.
What the Job Involves
EMTs and paramedics respond to 911 calls and scheduled transports, assess patients, control bleeding, give oxygen and move patients safely by gurney. Paramedics add IV lines, cardiac monitoring and medications. Crews restock the ambulance each shift, drive under emergency conditions, document every call and hand patients off to emergency department staff.
Skills Employers Look For
- Current California EMT certification or paramedic license
- American Heart Association BLS (CPR) card
- Ambulance driver's license and a clean driving record
- Ability to lift and move patients safely, at least 200 pounds with a partner
- Calm judgement and clear communication under pressure
- Accurate patient care documentation
- Knowledge of San Jose streets, freeways and hospital routes
Career Path and Advancement
Many San Jose EMTs start on interfacility transports with a private company, then move to 911 work. After the field experience paramedic programs require, the paramedic license raises pay sharply. From there the paths split: critical care transport, field training officer and supervisor roles with an ambulance company, or a firefighter academy with the San Jose Fire Department or Santa Clara County Fire, where paramedic skills earn premium pay.
Related Careers in San Jose
If emergency medicine interests you, these San Jose healthcare guides are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be an EMT in San Jose?
Yes. EMTs in California need a state EMT certification, issued through the local EMS agency after you finish an approved course and pass the National Registry EMT exam. In Santa Clara County that is the Santa Clara County EMS Agency. Paramedics need a separate state license from the California Emergency Medical Services Authority.
How much do EMTs and paramedics make in San Jose?
San Jose ambulance postings start EMTs at about $18.50 to $27 an hour, and the BLS 2025 metro median for paramedics is $40.61. Fire department pay is higher, about $124,000 a year at Step 1 for a San Jose firefighter.
How long does it take to become a paramedic?
Plan on about two years from scratch. An EMT course takes one semester, most paramedic programs want several months of full-time EMS work first, and Foothill College's paramedic program runs 15 to 18 months after that.
Do I need an ambulance driver's license?
Usually. Royal Ambulance requires a California ambulance driver's license with a DOT medical examiner's certificate, or the ability to get one before you start, and NORCAL Ambulance lists it as preferred.
How do I get hired by the San Jose Fire Department?
The department hires Firefighter Recruits in set recruitment windows for each academy, which trains firefighting and emergency medical response. Recruits earned about $52 an hour in the academy in the 2026 posting, and eligible firefighters receive paramedic premium pay. EMT certification makes you a stronger candidate across Santa Clara County fire departments.
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