How Much Money Does an Ambulance Driver Make?
An ambulance driver's ability to navigate congested traffic to get to the scene of an accident or injury can make the difference between life and death. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 19,000 ambulance drivers and attendants worked in the U.S. in 2010. They earned an average salary of $24,130 per year, as of May 2010, according to the BLS.
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Pay Range
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Ambulance drivers' average wages ranged from $16,410 to $33,990 per year in 2010, according to the BLS. Those in the middle 50 percent of the pay scale made between $18,520 and $28,080 yearly, with a reported median salary of $22,940.
Employers
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Only 2,470 of the 19,440 ambulance drivers nationwide worked for hospitals in 2010, according to the BLS. They made an average salary of $25,970. Most drivers worked for ambulance service companies, earning an average of $23,430 per year. Those working for local government agencies made $24,940, while those employed in the broad category of "other transit and ground passenger transportation" earned an average of $23,690.
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States
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The highest-paid ambulance drivers were in Massachusetts, Nevada, California and Washington, according to the BLS. These drivers made average salaries of more than $27,940 per year. Those working in other states made significantly lower salaries. West Virginia ambulance drivers made $19,460 per year, while those working in Mississippi made only $19,010. In New York, the state with the largest number of drivers, the average salary was $25,630. In California, ambulance drivers made $28,670 per year.
Cities
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Ambulance drivers' pay can also vary by city. In New York City, where the largest number of drivers worked, the average salary was $25,270 per year, according to the BLS. However, ambulance drivers in Boston averaged $34,000 per year, making them the highest-paid in the nation by metro location. Drivers in St. Louis and Washington, D.C., were the next highest-paid, at $32,460 and $32,350, respectively.
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References
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