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Career

Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure

What they do

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

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $35,450 Median per year · $17.04/hr Most earn $27,350–$45,960

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Place patients on stretchers, and load stretchers into ambulances, usually with assistance from other attendants.
  • Replace supplies and disposable items on ambulances.
  • Report facts concerning accidents or emergencies to hospital personnel or law enforcement officials.
  • Earn and maintain appropriate certifications.
  • Accompany and assist emergency medical technicians on calls.
  • Clean and wash rigs, ambulances, or equipment.

Job outlook

United States
1% fewer jobs by 2035, little or no change · about 1,400 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Ambulance services61.5%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals15.2%
  • Self-employed (their own business)11.0%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals5.9%
  • Other transit and ground passenger transportation2.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: Up to 1 month

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: Up to 1 monthEntry-level

Ambulance driver and attendant is an entry-level job. You can often start with just a high school diploma, and the typical prior experience is up to about one month. Many people then move on to higher-level emergency medical roles.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finishing high school gives you the basic education most ambulance services ask for, and it's where you can build helpful skills like first aid and teamwork.

  2. Ambulance Driver

    Up to 1 month

    You learn to drive the vehicle safely, help lift and move patients, and work with the crew during short on-the-job training before you handle calls on your own.

Where it can lead

  1. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

    Varies; often starts after the ambulance job or alongside it of experience first

    You complete EMT training and certification to give medical care at the scene and during transport, which is a bigger step than driving or helping lift patients.

  2. Paramedic

    1 to 3 months of prior experience, plus paramedic training of experience first

    You complete advanced medical training, usually a certificate or apprenticeship, to give more advanced care to patients in emergencies.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take health science or biologyThese classes teach how the body works and basic medical terms you'll hear on the job.
  • Get CPR and first aid certifiedMany schools and local groups offer these courses, and they show employers you can respond calmly in an emergency.
  • Volunteer with a first aid or community health groupVolunteering shows you how it feels to help people in tense situations and gives you something to talk about in applications.
  • Work a starter job that involves helping peopleA part-time job in a store, restaurant, or care setting teaches reliability, communication, and teamwork.
  • Get your driver's license and keep a clean driving recordMany ambulance jobs require a valid license and safe driving history, so start building that record now.

In college

  • Take anatomy, physiology, or a health-related courseThese classes build the medical knowledge that helps you understand patient care and work well with paramedics and nurses.
  • Get CPR, first aid, or EMT training if your school or town offers itFormal training can strengthen your application and prepare you for more advanced emergency medical roles later.
  • Join a campus emergency response or health clubStudent groups like these build teamwork, communication, and hands-on experience in urgent situations.
  • Look for a part-time job or volunteer role in healthcare or emergency servicesJobs like patient transport, hospital support, or volunteer EMS give you real exposure to the work.
  • Keep a clean driving record and check license requirementsDriving is a core part of this job, so being a safe, reliable driver matters to employers.

Tips for getting started

  • Check whether local ambulance services require a valid driver's license and a clean driving record, and ask what the training covers before you apply.
  • Get CPR and first aid certification now; it's often inexpensive, looks good on applications, and shows you can stay calm around people who are hurt.
  • Ask an ambulance service or fire station if you can visit or shadow for a day. Seeing the work firsthand helps you decide if it fits you.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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