Career Overview
Drive ambulance or assist ambulance driver in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons. Assist in lifting patients.
Also Known As
- Ambulance Driver
- Driver
- EMS Driver (Emergency Medical Services Driver)
- First Responder
Alternate Job Titles
- Ambulance Attendant
- Ambulance Driver
- Care Attendant
- Certified Emergency Vehicle Technician (CEV Technician)
- Chair Car Driver
- Class B Driver
- CPR Ambulance Driver (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Ambulance Driver)
- Driver
- Driver Medic
- Emergency Care Attendant (ECA)
- Emergency Medical Vehicle Operator
- Emergency Vehicle Operations Instructor
- Emergency Vehicle Operator
- Emergency Vehicle Technician
- EMS Driver (Emergency Medical Services Driver)
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Expression
- Speech Recognition
- Near Vision
- Deductive Reasoning
- Spatial Orientation
- Far Vision
- Static Strength
- Reaction Time
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Stress Tolerance
- Self-Control
- Integrity
- Cooperation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Support
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Ambulances
- Blood pressure recorders
- Desktop computers
- Gurneys
- Mechanical stethoscopes
- Multi-line telephone systems
- Oxygen administration equipment
- Patient restraints
- Patient stretchers
- Personal computers
- Protective face shields
- Protective gloves
- Rigid splints
- Safety goggles
- Two way radios
Work Environment
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
- Contact With Others
- Physical Proximity
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $25,460 |
| Median | $34,330 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $46,630 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 12,080
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Emergency Medical Technicians
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $41,340
Paramedics
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $58,410
Orderlies
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $37,700
Nursing Assistants
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $39,530
Home Health Aides
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: Varies
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.