Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
Machines can already do 20% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 56%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 20% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2034, and 56% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 12,630 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $35,450 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 95% for contact with people.
- Also called: Ambulance Driver, Chair Car Driver, CPR Ambulance Driver (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Ambulance Driver), Driver.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive ambulances or assist ambulance drivers in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons | 49% | 30% to 75% | |
| Place patients on stretchers, and load stretchers into ambulances, usually with assistance from other attendants | 15% | 3% to 30% | |
| Accompany and assist emergency medical technicians on calls | 10% | 3% to 30% | |
| Remove and replace soiled linens or equipment to maintain sanitary conditions | 5% | 20% to 60% | |
| Report facts concerning accidents or emergencies to hospital personnel or law enforcement officials | 5% | 30% to 54% | |
| Clean and wash rigs, ambulances, or equipment | 5% | 3% to 30% | |
| Replace supplies and disposable items on ambulances | 4% | 20% to 60% | |
| Administer first aid, such as bandaging, splinting, or administering oxygen | 3% | 3% to 30% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Emergency Medical Technicians42% of tasks by 2035 · US median $44,470
- Paramedics39% of tasks by 2035 · US median $60,600
- Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians44% of tasks by 2035 · US median $74,310
- Occupational Therapy Assistants49% of tasks by 2035 · US median $72,300
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2034. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians?
Machines can do 20% of the tasks of ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians today and 56% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 53-3011.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/ambulance-drivers-and-attendants-except-emergency-medical-technicians/