Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians

Drive ambulance or assist ambulance driver in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons. Assist in lifting patients.

AI Resistance Index 80 of 99

Among the most resilient careers: more resilient than 80% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is low (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it low), and US jobs are projected to change by -1.3% by 2035, expected to shrink. The work leans on emotional intelligence and ethical judgement.

AI struggles with much of this work. Hiring is expected to grow slower than average, or to shrink.

Median pay (2025): $35,450
Job growth to 2035: -1.3%
Openings a year: 1,400
People doing it (2025): 14,300
Usual route in: High school diploma, then moderate on-the-job training

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Where people already use AI for this work

Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise

From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).

Work AI rarely helps with

Administer emergency medical treatment
Clean tools, equipment, facilities, or work areas
Operate transportation equipment or vehicles

What the work looks like

Place patients on stretchers, and load stretchers into ambulances, usually with assistance from other attendants.
Replace supplies and disposable items on ambulances.
Accompany and assist emergency medical technicians on calls.
Earn and maintain appropriate certifications.
Drive ambulances or assist ambulance drivers in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons.

From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.

What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects

Fewer of these jobs, as emergency medical technicians and paramedics increasingly take on the tasks of ambulance drivers and attendants as part of their now standard set of duties and responsibilities. Being able to drive an ambulance is also an implicit skill required from technicians and paramedics, contributing further to this trend.

Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook

PhlebotomistsHuman edge, growing, Index 99, +6.8%
Flight attendantsGrows with AI, Index 84, +8.8%
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nursesHuman edge, steady, Index 82, +3.0%
ParamedicsHuman edge, growing, Index 88, +5.7%

Also known as: Ambulance Driver, Driver, EMS Driver (Emergency Medical Services Driver), First Responder, Chair Car Driver, CPR Ambulance Driver (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Ambulance Driver), Driver Medic, ECA (Emergency Care Attendant).

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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.