Best Summer Jobs for Premeds & How to Find Them

For most college students, summer is a time to decompress after a hectic academic year. However, as a premed, this is far from the case. Summer is your chance to gain the kind of meaningful experiences that will ultimately increase your chances of acceptance when it comes time to apply to medical school.

In this article, we’ll explore several ideal summer jobs for premed students that will help you stand out among your peers, develop the kinds of skills you’ll need throughout medical school and beyond, and build connections that could last a lifetime.

Making the Most of Your Premed Summer Experience

Your premed summers are unique, especially compared to what summers will be like during medical school. You’re not only trying to earn some extra cash to pay off your soon-to-be staggering tuition fees; you also need to find something that will boost your medical qualifications and make you a compelling applicant to admissions committees.

How could the position highlight your particular interests in medicine? How could it teach you valuable patient care techniques? Will it help you foster professional relationships so you can one day ask for strong letters of recommendation?

Your primary application doesn’t start in May of your application year. It starts the moment you enter college. Your goal is to create experiences that are personally fulfilling and enjoyable, and that also improve your chances of being admitted to medical school. Summer premed jobs are a way to do both.

5 Best Summer Jobs for Premed Students

The ideal premed summer job will look different for everyone, so take the time to consider what you want out of this experience. There is no wrong or right answer. The only wrong thing is doing nothing with your valuable summer time.

1. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Although becoming an EMT can require extensive training, depending on where you live, if you already have the qualifications ready before the summer starts, becoming an EMT offers you a wealth of medical experience. If you don’t have this training yet, your summer could be an ideal opportunity to acquire the necessary qualifications.

You’ll learn how to manage acute medical crises, as well as the stress that comes with it, and develop a rapport with patients, all of which will be invaluable skills in medical school and your future career. Many of the applicants you’ll be up against will not have these skills before they apply to medical school, so you’ll have a major leg up on your peers.

As an EMT, your responsibilities will include:

• Responding to emergency calls for accidents, illnesses, and injuries
• Evaluating patients’ conditions by taking vital signs and performing basic medical assessments
• Providing basic life support, like reducing blood loss, managing shock, and preventing the patient from deteriorating
• Comforting patients and their families during a stressful moment

Plus, EMTs are in high demand, the job tends to pay better than other classic premed summer jobs, and it’s flexible. If you enjoy being an EMT over the summer, you will likely be able to continue gaining this valuable medical experience during college and potentially during any gap years you decide to take.

2. Medical Assistant (MA)

If you want to learn what outpatient medicine looks like, consider becoming a medical assistant (MA). A medical assistant works alongside physicians, nurses, and other medical staff to ensure the smooth operation of facilities and patient care.

As an MA, your responsibilities include:

• Interviewing patients to gather medical history, such as their symptoms and any medications they currently take
• Measuring vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and weight
• Educating patients about their conditions, medications, and treatment plans
• Assisting physicians by preparing instruments, sterilizing equipment, and taking medical notes

There is also strong demand for MAs across the country, and requirements are often minimal. Although some states require licensing or coursework, most don’t, making the barrier to entry low for this role.

Lastly, MAs work in every outpatient setting. If you are interested in surgery, you can be hired as a medical assistant for your local surgeon’s practice on the days they are in-clinic. If you are interested in psychiatry, there are many opportunities for you to work with psychiatrists. Your options are limitless.

By being able to pursue this role in any setting, you can build a more cohesive personal narrative for your med school application and demonstrate a varied and rich clinical experience.

3. Medical Scribe

Medical scribes, often simply called  “scribes,” focus on documenting the physician-patient interaction by creating medical notes. This allows the physician to devote more attention to their patient while giving you the opportunity to observe physicians interact with hundreds of patients firsthand.

As a scribe, your responsibilities will include:

• Documenting the entire patient encounter, including medical history, physical examinations, diagnoses, current medications, and treatment plans
• Ensuring all documents adhere to appropriate medical terminology, formatting, and HIPAA compliance
• Assisting physicians by preparing exam rooms and gathering medical supplies
• Answering basic patient questions or concerns

Scribes are unique because they go where the physician goes, which is a huge opportunity for an aspiring physician. For example, if you want to experience the chaotic workflow in emergency departments, there are opportunities for you to become a scribe in the ED. If you want to work in a primary care or specialized medical clinic, you can find plenty of these opportunities as well.

Uniquely, there are several companies that will pay to train you to become a scribe, as they are often contracted by large health systems to provide their physicians with a group of scribes. However, you can also choose to work directly with a physician if you prefer this route.

4. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) are the epitome of patient care. A CNA typically works in hospitals or nursing homes to provide direct patient care, such as administering medications and maintaining the patients’ daily activities. CNAs play a vital role in ensuring patient safety, well-being, and comfort.

As a CNA, your responsibilities will include:

• Taking and monitoring vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and weight
• Providing emotional support and companionship to patients
• Communicating with patients and their families to ensure a clear understanding of the patient’s condition
• Assisting with collecting laboratory specimens under the supervision of nurses

CNA training requirements vary significantly by state. Some states require only the federal minimum of 75 training hours, while others mandate up to 180 hours. That translates to a program length anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on where you plan to practice.

Regardless, if your dream is to become a doctor, you’re sure to find this role personally fulfilling, as patients and their families are immensely grateful for the work you do. This premed summer job is one of the absolute best ways to get a wealth of patient stories that you can one day use to enhance your medical school application.

5. Research Assistant (RA)

If you have a yearning for research and have not been able to find enough time during the academic year, becoming a research assistant might be for you. As a research assistant (RA), you will spend your summer in a lab running experiments and processing data. And unlike the other premed jobs on this list, this is the only one where you have a great chance of earning a publication.

Your exact responsibilities as an RA will greatly depend on the lab you are in. However, typically, duties will likely:

• Contributing to the development of research methods and protocols
• Assisting with data collection through conducting experiments, surveys, or interviews
• Summarizing, organizing, and collecting information for your Principal Investigator (PI)
• Presenting validated data at conferences
• Preparing manuscripts for publication

It’s impossible to predict what your summer would look like as an RA, as it greatly depends on the culture of the lab, how far along the project you’re working on is, and even the field you’re conducting research in. However, it’s extremely common for former RAs to appreciate this valuable experience, as it’s precisely the kind of experience admissions committees are looking for.

Lastly, while looking for an RA job, consider neighboring schools or medical schools you would love to attend. By working as an RA there, you can build connections that could potentially help you when it comes time to apply to that medical school.

Learn more with our How to Crush Research as a Premed.

How to Find Summer Jobs as a Premed

Before you apply for any roles, make sure your resume or curriculum vitae is top-notch. Without a standout resume, your application will more than likely fall into the trash or into a dusty drawer full of ignored resumes.

Applying for a job can be labor-intensive, so ensure it’s not a futile effort by taking a few hours to craft these professional documents properly before you start applying.

Oftentimes, finding a summer job is easier said than done. Many employers are looking for a long-term commitment from premeds, or it’s possible you may not have the proper qualifications for the role. The simplest way to overcome these hurdles is to cast a wide net by applying to more jobs.

The best place to start is by leveraging your mentors and personal connections. If you are already working on a research project with a physician, ask if they are hiring students for the summer or if they know of any upcoming opportunities. This can truly streamline the process for you, as you might land these positions without needing to apply or interview.

You can also use hiring services like Indeed.com or Monster.com. These websites allow companies to post the roles they are looking to fill and simplify the application process. Additionally, search the career pages of local clinics and hospitals to learn about the roles they are actively hiring for.

How to Succeed at Your Premed Summer Job

Here are some tips for making the most of the experience.

1 | Take Advantage of Learning Opportunities

Pay attention to how the physician you’re working with interacts with their patients and how they handle certain situations. Doing this repeatedly will provide valuable insight into the broader medical field and what will be expected of you one day.

Additionally, don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek out opportunities to learn new skills. For example, if you are working as a Certified Nursing Assistant, ask if you can shadow the physicians in your free time. You likely won’t have the same amount of time to shadow a physician during school, so make the most of the time you have in the summer.

2 | Be Proactive and Take Initiative

Depending on how comfortable you are in your new role, aim to demonstrate your eagerness to learn and contribute. For example, once you have experience working as a medical assistant, don’t wait for others to tell you how to do your job. Rather, begin by taking vitals and collecting the patient’s history before the physician is ready to enter the room.

If you do decide to ask the physician for a letter of recommendation down the road, they are more likely to write a glowing letter, highlighting your “go-getter” attitude and their trust in you. Of course, this can be a double-edged sword, as it’s imperative you do exceptional work if you plan to ask for a letter of recommendation.

3 | Develop Strong Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Keep in mind that the physician you’re working with could end up writing your letter of recommendation. How you communicate with patients, handle difficult situations, and carry yourself day-to-day is exactly what a letter writer will draw from. A physician who has watched you operate under pressure has a lot more to say than one who remembers you as reliable but unremarkable.

4 | Maintain a Healthy Work-Life Balance

While demonstrating dedication is important, it’s vital to remember that it’s still your summer. To avoid burnout, set healthy boundaries between work and your personal life by scheduling time for rest and relaxation.

This is advice we always give premeds: “You are only in your twenties once. If you do it right, that is all you need.” Take as much time off as you can to travel around the world, the country, or even your home state. Often, these moments will be the ones you will remember the most, not the time you spend working an extra shift in the ED to make a bit more money.

It’s all about finding a healthy balance.

5 | Document Your Experiences

Reflect on your experiences and consider how they relate to your future goals in medicine. Take 10 to 15 minutes at the end of each week to highlight what you learned and what you struggled with.

Creating this record will put you a step ahead when it comes time to fill out the Work and Activities section of your medical school application. You will already have a wealth of experiences to use as a starting point, which will ultimately save you time throughout the application process, enhance your application, and give you plenty to discuss during interviews.

You can do this in a physical journal or online. Choose whatever you are more likely to use consistently.

Building Clinical Experience for Premed Success

The bottom line is you must be doing something to enhance your application every summer. Each summer is an opportunity to gain hundreds of clinical or research hours, which will be needed when it’s time to apply to medical school.

Remember to look for a premed job that fills a gap in your application. If you don’t have any paid clinical hours, become an EMT or an MA. If you lack research experience, work in a lab. If you want to see what it’s like to work on a hospital floor, become a scribe or a CNA. Do all that you can to make your application as compelling as possible.

Not sure how your summers fit into the bigger picture? Our Premed Timeline Guide breaks down exactly what you should be doing each year of undergrad so nothing falls through the cracks.

Summer Jobs for Premed Students FAQ

What is the best summer job for premed students?

There’s no single right answer, and that’s actually the point. The best premed summer job is the one that fills the biggest gap in your application. If you’re light on clinical hours, becoming an EMT or medical assistant gets you paid, with hands-on patient contact. If you’re missing research experience, working in a lab is the way to go. The goal every summer is to come out with something concrete to show for it, like hours logged, skills developed, and ideally a physician who can speak to your work in a letter of recommendation.

Do premed students need to work during the summer?

You don’t have to work, but you do have to be building your application. Medical schools want to see clinical experience, research, leadership, and community service, and those things don’t accumulate on their own. Admissions officers look for depth of experience and longitudinal commitment, not just a list of activities. A summer spent doing nothing meaningful is a summer your competitors will use to pull ahead.

Does being an EMT help with medical school applications?

Yes, when it’s part of an authentic narrative. The AAMC lists EMT work as one of the strongest alternatives to traditional physician shadowing, citing the hands-on patient contact and exposure to healthcare delivery across different environments. The advantage over passive clinical roles is real, as you’re a provider, not an observer. That said, EMT experience that just sits on your application without reflection or connection to your broader story won’t carry much weight. Adcoms have seen the EMT checkbox thousands of times. What they want to see is what you took from being an EMT and how it ties into your overall narrative about why medicine is your true calling.

How do I find a summer job as a premed?

Start with your own institution. Most universities have research labs actively looking for undergraduate assistants, and your premed advisor can often connect you directly with faculty. For clinical roles, reach out to local hospitals, clinics, and ambulance services. Many EMT training programs are offered through community colleges and fire departments, and some departments will sponsor your training in exchange for a volunteer commitment afterward. Scribing companies like Scribe America hire year-round and operate in most major cities. The earlier you start looking, the more options you’ll have. Don’t wait until May to figure out your summer.

Is research or clinical experience better for premed?

You need both, so framing it as one versus the other will hold you back. That said, if you’re missing one completely, prioritize clinical experience first. Community service, shadowing, and leadership carried greater weight in interview and acceptance decisions, but research becomes increasingly important as you advance. It’s required if you’re targeting a competitive specialty. But showing up to medical school without meaningful patient contact is a red flag that’s hard to overcome.

How do I get clinical hours as a premed?

The most reliable way is to take a job that puts you directly in front of patients. EMT, medical assistant, CNA, and scribe roles all generate clinical hours while paying you at the same time. If paid clinical experience is a priority, EMT and MA roles are your two strongest options. Volunteering at a hospital or clinic works too, though the hours tend to accumulate more slowly since most volunteer shifts are shorter and less frequent.

Whatever route you take, track your hours from day one. You’ll need to report them in the Work and Activities section of your AMCAS application, and “a lot” isn’t an answer. Most competitive applicants have several hundred hours of direct patient contact by the time they apply. The earlier you start, the less pressure you’ll feel scrambling to hit that number in your final year.