Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Ambulance Drivers and Attendants
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants drive ambulance or assist ambulance driver in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons. Assist in lifting patients.
Table of contents
What they do
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants drive ambulance or assist ambulance driver in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons. Assist in lifting patients.
- 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.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Ambulance Drivers and Attendants clean and wash rigs, ambulances, or equipment. They drive ambulances or assist ambulance drivers in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons.
A typical day for an Ambulance Driver and Attendant will also include:
- Perform minor maintenance on emergency medical services vehicles, such as ambulances.
- Remove and replace soiled linens or equipment to maintain sanitary conditions.
- Report facts concerning accidents or emergencies to hospital personnel or law enforcement officials.
- Replace supplies and disposable items on ambulances.
- Place patients on stretchers and load stretchers into ambulances, usually with assistance from other attendants.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Ambulance Drivers and Attendants also remove and replace soiled linens or equipment to maintain sanitary conditions. They may also accompany and assist emergency medical technicians on calls.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Ambulance Drivers and Attendants clean and wash rigs, ambulances, or equipment. They might also place patients on stretchers and load stretchers into ambulances, usually with assistance from other attendants.
In addition, they perform minor maintenance on emergency medical services vehicles, such as ambulances.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them report facts concerning accidents or emergencies to hospital personnel or law enforcement officials.
To some Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, it is also their responsibility to administer first aid, such as bandaging, splinting, or administering oxygen.
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What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
61% said they were satisfied with their job and 47% said they found their job meaningful.
I am a Firefighter/EMT with the Village of Waukesha, in Waukesha WI. When I run EMS calls, I am either a driver or an attendant in the back, so I have done both jobs. Driving an ambulance is a very rewarding experience. Anytime I can deliver the patient safely to the hospital and bring my crew safely back home, it’s a great day. While driving an ambulance, there is a lot you have to do, especially when you are arriving at the scene. Generally, you run hot (light and sirens) to the scene initially, and then run silent (no lights and sirens) to the hospital, unless the patient’s condition requires otherwise.
When running hot, there is a lot to watch out for. Other drivers, pedestrians, and road conditions. Generally, you are going faster than everyone around you, so it is certainly exciting. You definitely have to learn how to control your adrenaline, so you can focus on what is going on around you. There are a lot of blind spots in an ambulance, so constantly knowing where everyone around is located is very important. You also have to listen to the dispatch information and prepare a plan with your partner, on how to help the patient when you arrive. While en route, my partner and I will discuss who will do what on the call. Such as patient assessment, applying oxygen, getting medication, etc. We will also have to think if we will need to ask for additional units, based on the initial dispatch information. Finally, knowing where you are going as the driver is probably the most important. You can’t help the patient if you can’t get to the patient. Knowing your community is very important to help you get around quickly, as you can’t rely on GPS, because you need to focus on the road. Being in the ambulance as a driver or attendant is the best job ever! I get to help people when they need it the most, and that is very rewarding.
Pros
- Helping people
- Getting to do something that a lot of other people can’t do.
- Being involved in a person’s life, at the moment they need you the most.
- Ever-changing and challenging
- Never sure what you are going to have when you arrive on-scene.
- The ability to quickly see something and know exactly how to fix it.
Cons
- The things you see, you can’t unsee. Since you are being called to help someone at the worst time in their life, it can be very difficult at times.
- Time away from your family
- Sometimes you have to miss different events or activities because a call came out and you have to run it.
Pros
Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Short working hours (Less than 40 hours per week).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to work with designs.
One of the lowest paying jobs.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Ambulance Drivers and Attendants with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $20,660 to $23,620 per year or $10 to $11 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $41,440 | $20 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $32,880 | $16 |
| Median | $27,930 | $13 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $23,620 | $11 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $20,660 | $10 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Ambulance Drivers and Attendants based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | $39850 | $19.16 |
| Local Government | $34780 | $16.72 |
| Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation | $34300 | $16.49 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $31200 | $15.00 |
| Offices of Physicians | $31070 | $14.94 |
| Home Health Care Services | $31030 | $14.92 |
| Facilities Support Services | $30730 | $14.77 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $30100 | $14.47 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $28730 | $13.81 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Ambulance Drivers and Attendants work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Ambulance Drivers and Attendants including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | 7890 | $28730 | $13.81 |
| Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation | 1890 | $34300 | $16.49 |
| Local Government | 1880 | $34780 | $16.72 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 1720 | $31200 | $15.00 |
| Offices of Physicians | 70 | $31070 | $14.94 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | 40 | $39850 | $19.16 |
| Facilities Support Services | 40 | $30730 | $14.77 |
| Home Health Care Services | 30 | $31030 | $14.92 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $30100 | $14.47 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance)
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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