Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians

Q: What will a Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians earn in 10 years?

The Shigoto Zukan model projects $47,400 in 10 years ($40,800–$55,000) and $41,000 in 5 years.

Q: Will AI replace Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians?

The AI replacement risk for Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians is 22% (Low), estimated by comparing the tasks that AI and software can take over with the tasks that are hard to automate.

Q: What is the job outlook for Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians?

Employment of Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians is projected to change by −1.3% over 2025–35 (BLS), with about 1,400 openings per year. The Shigoto Zukan outlook score is 41/100.

United States SOC 53-3011.00 Transportation Confidence ★★★★★

Also called: Ambulance Attendant, Ambulance Driver, Chair Car Driver, CPR Ambulance Driver (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Ambulance Driver), Driver, Driver Medic, ECA (Emergency Care Attendant), Emergency Medical Vehicle Operator

Drive ambulance or assist ambulance driver in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons.

Median annual pay

$35,450

25th–75th pct. $30,750–$38,410

Top pay (est.)

$59,700

Top 10% $45,960

Pay in 5 years

$41,000est.

2031

Pay in 10 years

$47,400est.

$40,800–$55,000

Outlook score

41/100

★★☆☆☆ Below average

AI replacement risk

22%

Low

Job growth (10 yr)

−1.3%

1,400 openings / yr

What Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians do

Drive ambulance or assist ambulance driver in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons. Assist in lifting patients.

Typical tasks

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.
Clean and wash rigs, ambulances, or equipment.
Perform minor maintenance on emergency medical services vehicles, such as ambulances.
Restrain or shackle violent patients.

Typical path into the job (BLS)

Education High school diploma or equivalentRelated experience NoneOn-the-job training Moderate-term on-the-job trainingO*NET Job Zone 2

Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians salary

The median annual wage for Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians is $35,450 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $27,350 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $45,960. The mean annual wage is $36,210.

Median

$35,450

Mean

$36,210

10th percentile

$27,350

Entry level

25th percentile

$30,750

75th percentile

$38,410

90th percentile

$45,960

Top earners

Mean hourly wage

$17.00

2.3× the federal minimum ($7.25)

In Japanese yen

¥5.57M

≈ at 157.25 JPY/USD

The mean hourly wage of $17.00 is 2.3× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →

How does your pay compare with people your age?

Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).

Pay by percentile

Entry level (10th pct.)

$27,350

Early career (25th pct.)

$30,750

Mid career (median)

$35,450

Experienced (75th pct.)

$38,410

Top earners (90th pct.)

$45,960

Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.

How median, percentiles and the pay range are defined →

Projected pay for Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians (3, 5 and 10 years)est.

Today $35,450 → in 3 years $38,700 → in 5 years $41,000 → in 10 years $47,400 (10-year range $40,800–$55,000). The model assumes pay growth of +2.9% per year.

$35,450

Now
2026

$38,700

In 3 yrs
2029

$35,700–$42,100

$41,000

In 5 yrs
2031

$36,900–$45,700

$47,400

In 10 yrs
2036

$40,800–$55,000

What drives the annual growth rate

Base wage growth +3.0%Labor demand -0.27%AI impact +0.21%Total +2.9% / yr

Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →

Outlook score for Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians

41/100

★★☆☆☆

Below average · ranked #648 of all U.S. occupations

Pay level

3 pts

AI resistance

78 pts

Entry barrier

5 pts

Annual openings

69 pts

Projected growth

23 pts

Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.

Will AI replace Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians? AI replacement risk

22%

Low

Ranked #147 safest from AI among all U.S. occupations

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

How AI is changing this job

A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.

AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →

Labor demand for Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians

Employment

13K

BLS OEWS

Projected employment

14K

2025–35

Projected change

−1.3%

ranked #632 for growth

Annual openings

1,400

growth + replacement needs

Demand score

Low

36/100

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

Work experience

None

in a related occupation

On-the-job training

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.

Skills, education and requirements for Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians

Key skills

Critical Thinking

3.4

Reading Comprehension

3.4

Speaking

3.2

Active Listening

3.2

Active Learning

3.1

Monitoring

3.1

Social Perceptiveness

3.1

Service Orientation

3.0

O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).

Key knowledge areas

Customer and Personal Service

5.8

Psychology

4.5

English Language

4.3

Education and Training

4.2

Medicine and Dentistry

3.9

Public Safety and Security

3.6

Transportation

3.5

Therapy and Counseling

3.5

What the work involves

Assisting and Caring for OthersMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeHandling and Moving ObjectsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsCommunicating with People Outside the Organization

Important abilities

Oral ExpressionOral ComprehensionStatic StrengthProblem SensitivityNear VisionReaction Time

Training before entry

Up to 1 month

51%

3–6 months

32%

6–12 months

12%

1–3 months

Related work experience

None

48%

1–2 years

22%

3–6 months

18%

2–4 years

Up to 1 month

6–12 months

Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)

Difficulty of entry: ★☆☆☆☆ Easy to enter (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)

How to become Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians

Typical education

High school diploma or equivalent

BLS

Related experience

None

On-the-job training

Moderate-term on-the-job training

A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.

Career path and how to earn more as Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians

Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.

Related occupations

	Occupation	Pay	Outlook	AI risk
1	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW).	$58,640	53/100	42%
2	Light Truck Drivers Drive a light vehicle, such as a truck or van, with a capacity of less than 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), primarily to pick up merchandise or packages from a distribution center and deliver.	$44,860	56/100	35%
3	Driver/Sales Workers Drive truck or other vehicle over established routes or within an established territory and sell or deliver goods, such as food products, including restaurant take-out items, or pick up or deliver items such as commercial laundry.	$38,770	58/100	32%
4	Bus Drivers, School Drive a school bus to transport students.	$47,920	43/100	45%
5	Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs Drive a motor vehicle to transport passengers on a planned or scheduled basis.	$37,290	63/100	37%
6	Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Drive bus or motor coach, including regular route operations, charters, and private carriage.	$59,050	57/100	38%

Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data

Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35; O*NET 31.0 Database by USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0), modified by Shigoto Zukan. Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.