How much does a ambulance driver make?
Answer: A typical ambulance driver in the United States makes $35,450 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 13,000 people work in this job. Below the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Ambulance driver pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $27,350 | $35,450 | $45,960 | about 13,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $37,230 | about 610 |
| Illinois | $36,730 | about 610 |
| California | $36,150 | about 1,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $32,730 | about 1,000 |
| Texas | $31,010 | about 550 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, useful training or certificates, the type of employer, and location. Night or weekend shifts and extra hours may matter too, since some employers add shift or overtime pay.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a ambulance driver do?
Drive ambulance or assist ambulance driver in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons. Assist in lifting patients.
What's a typical day like?
They check the ambulance, help lift and secure patients on a stretcher, then drive them to a hospital or appointment. After the trip, they report key facts, clean the vehicle, and restock supplies.
How to get this job
In the U.S., most entrants have a high-school diploma or GED and a valid driver’s license. State and employer rules vary; some jobs require emergency-vehicle driving, first-aid or CPR training, and some states require extra certification or a test.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and helping and teaching.
Did you know?
In the U.S., some ambulance-driver jobs have no flashing lights or sirens: they also take people to appointments or home after treatment.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Transportation and Material Moving jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes533011.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/53-3011.00
- www.careeronestop.org/Videos/careeronestop-videos.aspx?videocode=53301100
- www.ems.gov/assets/NHTSA_Characterizing_Ambulance_Driver_Training_in__EMS_System
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY