53 Series · SOC 53-3011
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $35,450
- Median / year
- $45,960
- Top 10% earn
- -1.3%
- Growth '23–'33
- 12,630
- US workers
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians earn a median of $35,450 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $35,450, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $27,350 (10th percentile) to $45,960 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 12,630 US workers. Connecticut pays the most ($73,730), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians earn a median of $35,450, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 3% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Transportation and Material Moving, it ranks #49 of 50 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 1.3% by 2033.
- $35,450
- Median annual wage
- Top 97%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #49 of 50
- in Transportation and Material Moving
- 1.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Connecticut at $73,730. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians (SOC 53-3011) pays a national median of $35,450 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $27,350 at the 10th percentile to $45,960 at the 90th, with a mean of $36,210 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 12,630 Americans work in this occupation across 42 reporting states and 69 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -1.3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,400 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of C for this role, with a fatality rate of 17.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 4.8 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Connecticut pays the highest state median at $73,730, which is +108% above the national figure. The top metro is East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area at $52,000 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$35,450
per year
Median Hourly
$17.04/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$36,210
average
Employment
12,630
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$35,450 Bottom 3% higher than 3% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 53-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 53-series occupations with growth data, Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians sits on the slower-growing side at -1.3% growth and $35,450 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-1.3%
Declining
Annual Openings
1,400
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Moderate Risk
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
17.5/100K
Injury Rate
4.8/100
Danger Index
28/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Remove and replace soiled linens or equipment to maintain sanitary conditions.
- ▸ Drive ambulances or assist ambulance drivers in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons.
- ▸ Report facts concerning accidents or emergencies to hospital personnel or law enforcement officials.
- ▸ Place patients on stretchers, and load stretchers into ambulances, usually with assistance from other attendants.
- ▸ Accompany and assist emergency medical technicians on calls.
- ▸ Replace supplies and disposable items on ambulances.
- ▸ Perform minor maintenance on emergency medical services vehicles, such as ambulances.
- ▸ Clean and wash rigs, ambulances, or equipment.
- ▸ Earn and maintain appropriate certifications.
- ▸ Administer first aid, such as bandaging, splinting, or administering oxygen.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$27,350
25th Percentile
$30,750
Median
$35,450
75th Percentile
$38,410
90th Percentile
$45,960
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 42 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $73,730 | +108% above national |
| 2 | Oregon | $40,900 | +15% above national |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $39,480 | +11% above national |
| 4 | Maryland | $38,410 | +8% above national |
| 5 | North Dakota | $37,690 | +6% above national |
| 6 | Utah | $37,660 | +6% above national |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $37,450 | +6% above national |
| 8 | New York | $37,230 | +5% above national |
| 9 | Virginia | $36,980 | +4% above national |
| 10 | Illinois | $36,730 | +4% above national |
| 11 | Nevada | $36,440 | +3% above national |
| 12 | New Jersey | $36,170 | +2% above national |
| 13 | California | $36,150 | +2% above national |
| 14 | Iowa | $36,090 | +2% above national |
| 15 | Montana | $36,050 | +2% above national |
| 16 | Georgia | $35,950 | +1% above national |
| 17 | Tennessee | $35,740 | +1% above national |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $35,730 | +1% above national |
| 19 | Vermont | $35,690 | +1% above national |
| 20 | Ohio | $35,560 | same as national |
| 21 | Florida | $35,020 | 1% below national |
| 22 | Nebraska | $35,020 | 1% below national |
| 23 | Maine | $34,690 | 2% below national |
| 24 | Delaware | $34,400 | 3% below national |
| 25 | Indiana | $33,280 | 6% below national |
| 26 | Kentucky | $32,850 | 7% below national |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $32,730 | 8% below national |
| 28 | Arkansas | $32,720 | 8% below national |
| 29 | Minnesota | $32,670 | 8% below national |
| 30 | North Carolina | $32,450 | 8% below national |
| 31 | Michigan | $31,770 | 10% below national |
| 32 | Texas | $31,010 | 13% below national |
| 33 | Colorado | $30,800 | 13% below national |
| 34 | South Carolina | $29,300 | 17% below national |
| 35 | South Dakota | $29,190 | 18% below national |
| 36 | New Mexico | $28,700 | 19% below national |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $28,140 | 21% below national |
| 38 | Louisiana | $27,410 | 23% below national |
| 39 | West Virginia | $26,240 | 26% below national |
| 40 | Mississippi | $25,170 | 29% below national |
| 41 | Alabama | $24,420 | 31% below national |
| 42 | Puerto Rico | $22,940 | 35% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 69 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $52,000 | +47% above national |
| 2 | Madison, WI | $49,270 | +39% above national |
| 3 | Richmond, VA | $45,490 | +28% above national |
| 4 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $44,620 | +26% above national |
| 5 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $43,170 | +22% above national |
| 6 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $43,170 | +22% above national |
| 7 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $42,800 | +21% above national |
| 8 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $42,330 | +19% above national |
| 9 | Worcester, MA | $38,180 | +8% above national |
| 10 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $37,900 | +7% above national |
| 11 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $37,620 | +6% above national |
| 12 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $37,510 | +6% above national |
| 13 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $37,420 | +6% above national |
| 14 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $37,200 | +5% above national |
| 15 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $37,040 | +4% above national |
| 16 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $36,730 | +4% above national |
| 17 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $36,730 | +4% above national |
| 18 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $36,190 | +2% above national |
| 19 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $36,090 | +2% above national |
| 20 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $36,090 | +2% above national |
| 21 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $36,090 | +2% above national |
| 22 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $36,030 | +2% above national |
| 23 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $35,980 | +1% above national |
| 24 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $35,960 | +1% above national |
| 25 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $35,940 | +1% above national |
| 26 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $35,700 | +1% above national |
| 27 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $35,580 | same as national |
| 28 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $35,470 | same as national |
| 29 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $35,440 | same as national |
| 30 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $35,410 | same as national |
| 31 | Cleveland, OH | $35,290 | same as national |
| 32 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $35,160 | 1% below national |
| 33 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $35,020 | 1% below national |
| 34 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $34,880 | 2% below national |
| 35 | Fresno, CA | $34,320 | 3% below national |
| 36 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $34,130 | 4% below national |
| 37 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $33,720 | 5% below national |
| 38 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $33,320 | 6% below national |
| 39 | Reading, PA | $32,950 | 7% below national |
| 40 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $32,850 | 7% below national |
| 41 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $32,830 | 7% below national |
| 42 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $32,780 | 8% below national |
| 43 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $32,670 | 8% below national |
| 44 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $32,530 | 8% below national |
| 45 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $31,940 | 10% below national |
| 46 | York-Hanover, PA | $31,760 | 10% below national |
| 47 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $31,520 | 11% below national |
| 48 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $31,270 | 12% below national |
| 49 | Pittsburgh, PA | $31,220 | 12% below national |
| 50 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $31,200 | 12% below national |
| 51 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $30,830 | 13% below national |
| 52 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $30,800 | 13% below national |
| 53 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $30,550 | 14% below national |
| 54 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $29,870 | 16% below national |
| 55 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $29,190 | 18% below national |
| 56 | Columbia, SC | $29,000 | 18% below national |
| 57 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $28,870 | 19% below national |
| 58 | Jackson, MS | $28,630 | 19% below national |
| 59 | Florence, SC | $28,530 | 20% below national |
| 60 | Tulsa, OK | $28,510 | 20% below national |
| 61 | Oklahoma City, OK | $28,310 | 20% below national |
| 62 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $27,950 | 21% below national |
| 63 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $27,850 | 21% below national |
| 64 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $26,630 | 25% below national |
| 65 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $23,020 | 35% below national |
| 66 | Mayaguez, PR | $22,510 | 37% below national |
| 67 | Aguadilla, PR | $22,300 | 37% below national |
| 68 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $21,790 | 39% below national |
| 69 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $20,920 | 41% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 53 (transportation and material moving) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians make? ▼
What state pays Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians? ▼
How dangerous is being a Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians? ▼
Is Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians a good career? ▼
How does Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $38,410/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Connecticut leads at $73,730/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.