Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians, support medical transport operations across the country. With national employment of 12,000 and about 1,000 annual openings, this role offers a steady stream of opportunities for new entrants and career changers. The national median annual salary is $34,330, with some variation by state and metro area. Positions are available in many regions, including larger concentrations in places such as California and New York. The work draws on a combination of physical strength and stamina, attention to detail, and strong interpersonal and customer service abilities. Communication skills, including speaking, listening, writing, and reading, also play an important role, along with adaptability and mechanical awareness. A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical education requirement, which can make this occupation relatively accessible while still demanding a diverse skill set. For individuals interested in related paths, similar occupations include emergency medical technicians and several non‑healthcare options.
For ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians, the national median annual salary is $34,330. Pay varies across states and metro areas. Among the top states by opportunity score, median salaries range from $30,800 in Colorado to $38,410 in Maryland, with California, New York, and Virginia also above $36,000. In leading metro areas, pay levels often exceed state medians. For example, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV shows a median salary of $44,620, while Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ report medians of $37,510 and $37,620, respectively. Other major metros such as Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD offer median salaries in the mid‑$30,000s. These figures suggest that pay prospects can differ meaningfully by location, so job seekers may want to compare state and metro medians when evaluating opportunities.
Nationally, ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians, account for 12,000 jobs. The occupation has a projected employment growth rate of -1.3%, indicating a small decline in total positions over the projection period. Despite this negative growth rate, there are about 1,000 annual openings, which reflects ongoing hiring needs as people change jobs, retire, or move into other occupations. This combination of modest overall employment size, slight projected decline, and continuing openings means that opportunities will likely depend on both regional demand and replacement needs. The same -1.3% growth rate appears across highlighted states and metro areas, signaling a broadly similar projection in those locations. Individuals considering this path should factor in both the national trend and local conditions, as employment levels differ significantly between areas such as California, New York, and smaller states or metros with lower employment counts.
Location makes a noticeable difference for ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians, in both pay and employment concentration. Among states with high CareerGPS opportunity scores, California leads in employment with 1,420 positions and a median salary of $36,150. New York and Maryland offer higher state-level median salaries of $37,230 and $38,410, respectively, while Virginia stands at $36,980. Colorado, with 70 employed and a median salary of $30,800, illustrates how smaller labor markets and lower pay can contrast with larger states. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ has a strong combination of 540 employed and a $37,620 median salary. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV stands out for its $44,620 median salary, the highest among listed metros, although with a smaller employment base of 90. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD provide additional sizable markets with mid‑$30,000s salaries.
The typical education requirement for ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians, is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the field accessible to individuals who have completed secondary education and are ready to enter the workforce or shift from another occupation. Success in this role depends heavily on a blend of practical and interpersonal skills. Key strengths include being detail oriented, having solid physical strength and stamina, and demonstrating strong interpersonal and customer service abilities. Communication is also central, with speaking and listening, as well as writing and reading, all highlighted skills. Mechanical awareness and fine motor abilities contribute to handling equipment and performing tasks that require precise movement. Adaptability and a grounding in science round out the skill profile, supporting effective performance in varied and sometimes changing situations. Together, these skills complement the relatively modest formal education requirement and define the capabilities employers are likely to value.
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