Jobs Similar to Ambulance Drivers and Attendants
Also called: Ambulance Drivers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to ambulance drivers and attendants, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Paramedics, Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers and Orderlies.
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants: $35,450 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Ambulance Drivers and Attendants) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paramedics | 79% | $60,600+71% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | 76% | $33,580−5% | High school |
| 3 | Orderlies | 75% | $38,290+8% | High school |
| 4 | Firefighters | 75% | $59,280+67% | High school |
| 5 | Bus Drivers, SchoolSame group | 74% | $47,920+35% | High school |
| 6 | Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | 74% | $74,310+110% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Respiratory Therapists | 74% | $82,280+132% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Animal Control Workers | 73% | $45,660+29% | High school |
| 9 | Physical Therapist Aides | 72% | $35,240−1% | High school |
| 10 | Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercitySame group | 72% | $59,050+67% | High school |
| 11 | Parking Enforcement Workers | 72% | $46,730+32% | High school |
| 12 | Embalmers | 71% | $58,780+66% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 71% | $64,400+82% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | 71% | $76,210+115% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Subway and Streetcar Operators | 71% | $86,380+144% | High school |
| 16 | Forest and Conservation Workers | 71% | $43,680+23% | High school |
| 17 | Parking Attendants | 71% | $35,150−1% | High school |
| 18 | Shuttle Drivers and ChauffeursSame group | 70% | $37,290+5% | High school |
| 19 | Baggage Porters and Bellhops | 70% | $37,080+5% | High school |
| 20 | Radiation Therapists | 70% | $105,310+197% | Training or associate |
- 1Paramedics
79% similar · $60,600 (+71%) · Training or associate
- 2Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
76% similar · $33,580 (−5%) · High school
- 3Orderlies
75% similar · $38,290 (+8%) · High school
- 4Firefighters
75% similar · $59,280 (+67%) · High school
- 5Bus Drivers, School
74% similar · $47,920 (+35%) · High school · Same group
- 6Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
74% similar · $74,310 (+110%) · Training or associate
- 7Respiratory Therapists
74% similar · $82,280 (+132%) · Training or associate
- 8Animal Control Workers
73% similar · $45,660 (+29%) · High school
- 9Physical Therapist Aides
72% similar · $35,240 (−1%) · High school
- 10Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
72% similar · $59,050 (+67%) · High school · Same group
- 11Parking Enforcement Workers
72% similar · $46,730 (+32%) · High school
- 12Embalmers
71% similar · $58,780 (+66%) · Training or associate
- 13Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
71% similar · $64,400 (+82%) · Training or associate
- 14Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
71% similar · $76,210 (+115%) · Training or associate
- 15Subway and Streetcar Operators
71% similar · $86,380 (+144%) · High school
- 16Forest and Conservation Workers
71% similar · $43,680 (+23%) · High school
- 17Parking Attendants
71% similar · $35,150 (−1%) · High school
- 18Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs
70% similar · $37,290 (+5%) · High school · Same group
- 19Baggage Porters and Bellhops
70% similar · $37,080 (+5%) · High school
- 20Radiation Therapists
70% similar · $105,310 (+197%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than ambulance drivers and attendants.
- Subway and Streetcar Operators71% similar · $86,380 (+144%)
- Firefighters75% similar · $59,280 (+67%)
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity72% similar · $59,050 (+67%)
- Bus Drivers, School74% similar · $47,920 (+35%)
- Parking Enforcement Workers72% similar · $46,730 (+32%)
- Animal Control Workers73% similar · $45,660 (+29%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for ambulance drivers and attendants also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where ambulance drivers and attendants is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like ambulance drivers and attendants
What jobs are most similar to ambulance drivers and attendants?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Paramedics (79% similar), Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers (76% similar), Orderlies (75% similar), Firefighters (75% similar) and Bus Drivers (School) (74% similar).
Which jobs like ambulance drivers and attendants pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Radiation Therapists ($105,310, +197%; usually training or an associate degree), Subway and Streetcar Operators ($86,380, +144%; usually a high school diploma) and Respiratory Therapists ($82,280, +132%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with ambulance drivers and attendants ($35,450). Without more preparation than ambulance drivers and attendants usually need: Subway and Streetcar Operators, Firefighters and Bus Drivers (Transit and Intercity).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.