Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,350 | $13.15 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $35,450 | $17.04 |
| Mean (average) | $36,210 | $17.41 |
| 90th percentile | $45,960 | $22.10 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 42 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $24,420 | $22,880 | $36,920 | 230 | 1.33 |
| Arkansas | $32,720 | $24,180 | $45,380 | 70 | 0.65 |
| California | $36,150 | $34,320 | $45,810 | 1,420 | 0.96 |
| Colorado | $30,800 | $30,800 | $43,060 | 70 | 0.3 |
| Connecticut | $73,730 | $36,700 | $79,650 | 280 | 2.02 |
| Delaware | $34,400 | $31,410 | $41,180 | 50 | 1.37 |
| Florida | $35,020 | $30,240 | $46,240 | 210 | 0.26 |
| Georgia | $35,950 | $28,390 | $40,800 | 390 | 0.98 |
| Illinois | $36,730 | $34,090 | $43,600 | 610 | 1.22 |
| Indiana | $33,280 | $24,250 | $56,480 | 240 | 0.94 |
| Iowa | $36,090 | $29,050 | $44,310 | 370 | 2.88 |
| Kentucky | $32,850 | $27,010 | $39,570 | 130 | 0.77 |
| Louisiana | $27,410 | $26,470 | $34,480 | 120 | 0.77 |
| Maine | $34,690 | $30,470 | $39,230 | 170 | 3.29 |
| Maryland | $38,410 | $36,260 | $51,360 | 300 | 1.33 |
| Massachusetts | $39,480 | $36,330 | $49,110 | ||
| Michigan | $31,770 | $26,610 | $49,030 | ||
| Minnesota | $32,670 | $23,960 | $49,030 | ||
| Mississippi | $25,170 | $18,230 | $36,940 | 300 | 3.16 |
| Montana | $36,050 | $31,080 | $43,180 | 180 | 4.31 |
| Nebraska | $35,020 | $29,040 | $44,570 | 280 | 3.4 |
| Nevada | $36,440 | $35,230 | $57,010 | 60 | 0.44 |
| New Hampshire | $35,730 | $30,560 | $43,220 | 30 | 0.61 |
| New Jersey | $36,170 | $32,240 | $41,080 | 170 | 0.48 |
| New Mexico | $28,700 | $26,780 | $33,810 | 70 | 0.98 |
| New York | $37,230 | $34,720 | $51,930 | 610 | 0.78 |
| North Carolina | $32,450 | $26,210 | $37,210 | ||
| North Dakota | $37,690 | $24,060 | $68,100 | 120 | 3.37 |
| Ohio | $35,560 | $30,580 | $42,700 | 410 | 0.91 |
| Oklahoma | $28,140 | $27,080 | $33,370 | ||
| Oregon | $40,900 | $31,770 | $44,840 | 40 | 0.27 |
| Pennsylvania | $32,730 | $28,360 | $41,800 | 1,400 | 2.84 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,940 | $21,840 | $24,140 | 520 | 6.84 |
| South Carolina | $29,300 | $25,110 | $38,660 | 620 | 3.3 |
| South Dakota | $29,190 | $28,960 | $32,780 | 160 | 4.23 |
| Tennessee | $35,740 | $30,910 | $52,850 | 460 | 1.71 |
| Texas | $31,010 | $21,520 | $34,730 | 550 | 0.48 |
| Utah | $37,660 | $26,770 | $57,190 | 50 | 0.37 |
| Vermont | $35,690 | $34,910 | $41,690 | 40 | 1.43 |
| Virginia | $36,980 | $27,540 | $45,830 | 370 | 1.11 |
| West Virginia | $26,240 | $21,590 | $30,880 | 170 | 2.97 |
| Wisconsin | $37,450 | $23,710 | $49,270 | 230 | 0.95 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 11%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance) CIP 51.0810
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Computer aided dispatch software
- Mapping software
Transferable skills for career changers: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Operation and Control, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Operations Monitoring.
Common job titles: Ambulance Driver, Chair Car Driver, CPR Ambulance Driver (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Ambulance Driver), Driver, Driver Medic, ECA (Emergency Care Attendant), Emergency Vehicle Operator, EMS Driver (Emergency Medical Services Driver), First Responder, Medical Van Driver (Medi-Van Driver).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians make?
The national median annual wage for ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians was $35,450 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $27,350 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $45,960. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians to change -1.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Connecticut ($73,730), Oregon ($40,900), Massachusetts ($39,480). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.