How much does a ambulance driver and attendant make?
The median ambulance driver and attendant in the United States earns $34,330 per year, about $16.51 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all ambulance drivers and attendants earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 53-3011.
Ambulance driver and attendant salary range
Pay for ambulance drivers and attendants spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $25,460 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $46,630. The average (mean) wage of $35,550 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $25,460 | $12.24 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $29,580 | $14.22 | |
| Median (50th) | $34,330 | $16.51 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $38,000 | $18.27 | |
| 90th percentile | $46,630 | $22.42 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians (SOC 53-3011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Ambulance driver and attendant salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Ambulance drivers and attendants earn the most in Oklahoma at $43,490 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $23,080. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $43,490 | 120 |
| Washington | $40,560 | 60 |
| Oregon | $39,520 | 60 |
| Massachusetts | $39,440 | N/A |
| New Jersey | $39,200 | 170 |
| Florida | $38,340 | 270 |
| Maryland | $37,480 | 350 |
| California | $36,960 | 850 |
| Wisconsin | $36,750 | 290 |
| Colorado | $36,320 | 100 |
| Minnesota | $36,170 | 90 |
| Delaware | $35,980 | 70 |
| Illinois | $35,690 | 520 |
| Tennessee | $35,690 | 430 |
| New York | $35,590 | 740 |
| Iowa | $35,230 | 230 |
| Vermont | $35,050 | N/A |
| Virginia | $35,050 | 260 |
| Montana | $35,000 | 50 |
| Kentucky | $34,980 | 150 |
| Nebraska | $34,080 | 50 |
| New Hampshire | $33,550 | 50 |
| South Dakota | $33,230 | 60 |
| North Carolina | $32,630 | 140 |
| Pennsylvania | $32,630 | 1,550 |
| Indiana | $32,510 | 340 |
| Maine | $32,100 | 160 |
| Arkansas | $31,400 | 50 |
| Michigan | $31,200 | N/A |
| Ohio | $30,690 | 290 |
| Georgia | $30,070 | 550 |
| Texas | $29,910 | 450 |
| South Carolina | $29,810 | 1,010 |
| North Dakota | $29,550 | 200 |
| New Mexico | $29,520 | 140 |
| Alabama | $25,480 | 330 |
| West Virginia | $25,190 | 230 |
| Mississippi | $23,080 | 350 |
State median wages for ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians (SOC 53-3011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for ambulance drivers and attendants
The BLS projects employment of ambulance drivers and attendants to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 1.3%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 14,300 jobs in 2025 moving toward 14,100 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 1,400 openings a year for ambulance drivers and attendants. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an ambulance driver and attendant
The typical entry-level education for ambulance drivers and attendants is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an ambulance driver and attendant earns
Route type, employer, endorsements, and hours behind the wheel drive pay. Long-haul, specialized freight, and union employers tend to sit at the top of the range, while local and entry-level roles start lower.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Oklahoma, $43,490) and the lowest (Mississippi, $23,080) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 12,080 people work as ambulance drivers and attendants in the United States. At $34,330 a year, the job pays below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Ambulance driver and attendant salary FAQ
How much does an ambulance driver and attendant make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an ambulance driver and attendant is $16.51. The middle half of ambulance drivers and attendants earn between $14.22 and $18.27 per hour.
What is the highest ambulance driver and attendant salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of ambulance drivers and attendants earn more than $46,630 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an ambulance driver and attendant make a year?
The median annual salary for an ambulance driver and attendant is $34,330. The average (mean) wage of $35,550 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being an ambulance driver and attendant a well paid job?
At $34,330 a year, an ambulance driver and attendant earns below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 12,080 people work as ambulance drivers and attendants in the United States.
Which state pays ambulance drivers and attendants the most?
Oklahoma has the highest median salary for ambulance drivers and attendants at $43,490 a year. Washington ($40,560) and Oregon ($39,520) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being an ambulance driver and attendant a good career?
Employment of ambulance drivers and attendants is projected to shrink 1.3% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 1,400 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an ambulance driver and attendant?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for ambulance drivers and attendants as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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