Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
SOC 53-3011BLS OEWS May 2025
Drive ambulance or assist ambulance driver in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons. Assist in lifting patients.
National median · BLS
$35,450
▲ +3.26%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$36,210
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
12,630
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$27,350
25th
$30,750
Median (50th)
$35,450
75th
$38,410
90th — top pay
$45,960
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
BLS projects employment of ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians to decline 1.3% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 1,400 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
14,300 → 14,100
-200 jobs
Projected change
-1.3%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
1,400
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
11% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Active Listening3.5
Critical Thinking3.5
Service Orientation3.4
Speaking3.4
Reading Comprehension3.3
Active Learning3.1
Operation and Control3.1
Social Perceptiveness3.1
Coordination3.0
Judgment and Decision Making3.0
Top knowledge areas
English Language4.3
Customer and Personal Service4.3
Transportation4.0
Medicine and Dentistry3.8
Public Safety and Security3.8
Education and Training3.5
Psychology3.4
Telecommunications3.4
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WordComputer aided dispatch softwareMapping software
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians do
Place patients on stretchers, and load stretchers into ambulances, usually with assistance from other attendants.
Replace supplies and disposable items on ambulances.
Accompany and assist emergency medical technicians on calls.
Earn and maintain appropriate certifications.
Drive ambulances or assist ambulance drivers in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons.
Administer first aid, such as bandaging, splinting, or administering oxygen.
Remove and replace soiled linens or equipment to maintain sanitary conditions.
Report facts concerning accidents or emergencies to hospital personnel or law enforcement officials.
Also called
Ambulance DriverDriverEMS Driver (Emergency Medical Services Driver)First ResponderChair Car DriverCPR Ambulance Driver (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Ambulance Driver)Driver MedicECA (Emergency Care Attendant)Emergency Vehicle OperatorMedical Van Driver (Medi-Van Driver)
More job titles for this occupation (12)
Ambulance AttendantEmergency Medical Vehicle OperatorEMS First Responder (Emergency Medical Services First Responder)EMS Medic (Emergency Medical Services Medic)Hospital CarrierMedical Transport DriverMedical Transportation DriverMobile Health Vehicle OperatorNon-Emergency Medical Transportation DriverPatient CarrierTransport MedicWheelchair Van Operator First Responder
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $35,450.
