The median pay for Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians is $35,450 a year ($17.04/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 1.3% through 2035, with about 1,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 53-3011
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Ambulance Driver and Attendant, Except Emergency Medical Technicians in four numbers
- Median pay
- $35,450a year, or $17.04/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $27KTop 10% $46K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -1.3%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−1.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −1.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,40014,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202514.3K
- Projected 203514.1K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 14.3K Projected 2035 14.1K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Ambulance Driver, Chair Car Driver, CPR Ambulance Driver (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Ambulance Driver), Driver, Driver Medic, ECA (Emergency Care Attendant).
Pay
How much do Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians make?
Every ambulance driver and attendant, except emergency medical technicians in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$35,450
Middle half earn $30,750 to $38,410
- 10th
- $27,350
- 25th
- $30,750
- 75th
- $38,410
- 90th
- $45,960
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $27,350 |
| 25th | $30,750 |
| Median | $35,450 |
| 75th | $38,410 |
| 90th | $45,960 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $35,450
- Median hourly wage
- $17.04/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $36,210
- People employed
- 12,630
Versus all US occupations
At $35,450, Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians earn 30% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $15,530 a year.
Versus transportation and material moving occupations
Inside the Transportation and Material Moving group, where the middle occupation pays $62,840, this is 44% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $45,960 or more while the bottom 10% earn $27,350, a gap of 1.7×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 2% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Connecticut pays the most at $73,730, and still leads at $71,161 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Connecticut | $73,730 | $71,161 | 280 |
| 2Oregon | $40,900 | $39,570 | 40 |
| 3Massachusetts | $39,480 | $37,331 | N/A |
| 4Maryland | $38,410 | $36,595 | 300 |
| 5North Dakota | $37,690 | $42,368 | 120 |
| 6Utah | $37,660 | $38,093 | 50 |
| 7Wisconsin | $37,450 | $39,800 | 230 |
| 8New York | $37,230 | $34,497 | 610 |
| 9Virginia | $36,980 | $36,576 | 370 |
| 10Illinois | $36,730 | $36,745 | 610 |
Job outlook
Is Ambulance Driver and Attendant, Except Emergency Medical Technicians a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -1.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | −1.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians to change -1.3% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 200 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,400 openings are projected each year, 9.8% of the 14,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become an Ambulance Driver and Attendant, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
The work
What does an Ambulance Driver and Attendant, Except Emergency Medical Technicians do?
Drive ambulance or assist ambulance driver in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons. Assist in lifting patients.
Day-to-day tasks
- Place patients on stretchers, and load stretchers into ambulances, usually with assistance from other attendants.
- Remove and replace soiled linens or equipment to maintain sanitary conditions.
- Earn and maintain appropriate certifications.
- Clean and wash rigs, ambulances, or equipment.
- Drive ambulances or assist ambulance drivers in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons.
- Report facts concerning accidents or emergencies to hospital personnel or law enforcement officials.
- Administer first aid, such as bandaging, splinting, or administering oxygen.
- Replace supplies and disposable items on ambulances.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.5
- Critical Thinking3.5
- Speaking3.4
- Reading Comprehension3.3
- Active Learning3.1
- Monitoring3.0
- Writing2.8
- Learning Strategies2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.5 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 |
| Speaking | 3.4 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.3 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Service Orientation3.4
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Operation and Control3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Operations Monitoring2.9
- Time Management2.9
- Instructing2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 3.4 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Operation and Control | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
| Instructing | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Helpdesk or call center software
- Map creation software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Ambulance Driver and Attendant, Except Emergency Medical Technicians?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Ambulance Driver and Attendant, Except Emergency Medical Technicians |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 5 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
- Realistic6.5
- Social4.7
- Conventional3.6
- Investigative2.5
- Enterprising1.5
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Ambulance Driver and Attendant, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
O*NET related occupations
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Support
- Healthcare Support
- Healthcare Support
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
More transportation and material moving careers
Median annual pay, with ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians highlighted
- Airline Pilot$232,140
- Commercial Pilot$123,220
- Locomotive Engineer$81,410
- Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster$78,000
- Crane and Tower Operator$68,080
- Flight Attendant$63,580
- Truck Driver$58,640
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$49,690
- Ambulance Driver and Attendant, Except Emergency Medical Technicians$35,450
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Airline Pilot | $232,140 |
| Commercial Pilot | $123,220 |
| Locomotive Engineer | $81,410 |
| Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster | $78,000 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $68,080 |
| Flight Attendant | $63,580 |
| Truck Driver | $58,640 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $49,690 |
| Ambulance Driver and Attendant, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | $35,450 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Ambulance Driver and Attendant, Except Emergency Medical Technicians appears on
Questions
Ambulance Driver and Attendant, Except Emergency Medical Technicians: frequently asked questions
How much do Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians make?
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians earn a median of $35,450 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 30% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $17.04/hr. The middle half earn between $30,750 and $38,410. The top 10% earn $45,960 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Ambulance Driver and Attendant, Except Emergency Medical Technicians?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training.
Is Ambulance Driver and Attendant, Except Emergency Medical Technicians a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 1.3% over 2025–2035, a loss of 200 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Ambulance Driver and Attendant, Except Emergency Medical Technicians do?
Drive ambulance or assist ambulance driver in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons. A core O*NET task: place patients on stretchers, and load stretchers into ambulances, usually with assistance from other attendants. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Office suite software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians the most?
The highest state medians for Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians are Connecticut ($73,730), Oregon ($40,900), Massachusetts ($39,480) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Ambulance Driver and Attendant, Except Emergency Medical Technicians?
O*NET scores Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians highest on the Realistic, Social and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.