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Ambulance Services in the US - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Tina Fine Tina Fine New York, United States Last Updated: December 2025 NAICS 62191

Revenue

$21.4bn

2025

$21.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

188k

Businesses

3,139

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Ambulance Services in the US industry analysis

As ambulance service demand grows at a steady pace, cities, counties, hospitals and health systems are handing more 911 and non-emergency trips to large regional providers, rather than running them in-house. This shift gives multi-area ambulances more power to set contract terms and leaves them responsible for a larger share of billing and collections work. Consolidation has enabled providers to spread the costs associated with dispatch, compliance and collections over higher call volumes, allowing them to underbid smaller rivals on multi-year contracts. At the same time, smarter dispatch and data-sharing tools boost service quality, while real-time communication and triage systems route low-acuity incidents away from ambulances, challenging industry growth. As a growing 65+ population and Medicare-covered chronic and repeat transports underpin demand, industry-wide revenue is expected to climb at a CAGR of 2.1% to a total of $21.4 billion in 2025, when revenue will rally by an estimated 2.4% in 2025 alone.

Trends and Insights

  • Consolidation will enhance economies of scale and raise barriers to entry. Many ambulance service providers are privately owned, allowing larger providers to offer services at lower costs. This benefits budget-constrained local governments, healthcare providers and insurers looking to save money.
  • Most ground ambulance services are primarily related to emergency situations. Nearly two-thirds of calls are for emergencies, while nonemergency calls account for less than one-fifth. This highlights the critical role of ambulances in urgent care.
  • The share of ambulance services aligns with a region's population share. More populated areas have more ambulance services. The type and number of providers at the local level often correlate with the population's age.
  • Quality and response times will be the criteria for determining price. Since most ambulance service revenue comes from emergency service rather than nonemergency services, high standards and efficient response times will be crucial.
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $21.4bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Nonemergency transport and virtual care impact ambulance services demand

  • Nonemergency medical transportation continues to expand, competing directly for scheduled, non-urgent trips. These services transport patients to routine care, such as dialysis, chemotherapy and follow-up visits, using regular vehicles rather than emergency equipment, which lowers costs for insurers and patients. Uber Health describes its nonemergency medical transportation service for recurring treatments such as dialysis or chemotherapy and notes that rides can be scheduled through a provider dashboard without the patient using the Uber app. Lyft also markets a healthcare transportation service for nonemergency medical transportation that payers and providers can use for members, including those covered by Medicaid and Medicare Advantage. As options become more familiar to patients, they divert volume from the lowest-acuity ambulance trips, reducing demand.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Ambulance Services in the US
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Investor backed consolidation raises efficiency but poses risks for local competitors

  • Industry restructuring through public–private partnerships is accelerating as municipalities and hospital systems contract out 911 response, interfacility transfers and nonemergency medical transport to private fleets to cut operating costs and stabilize coverage. Larger national providers leverage their scale in procurement, fleet maintenance and billing, helping local governments manage rising labor, fuel and compliance costs, especially in rural and super-rural regions that face long transport distances.

Biggest companies in the Ambulance Services in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue
2025
Profit
2025
Profit Margin (%)
2025

There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the Ambulance Services in the US industry.

Products & Services Segmentation

Ambulance Services in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Emergency surface ambulance , Emergency air ambulance (fixed wing) and Nonemergency surface ambulance. Emergency surface ambulance is the largest segment of the Ambulance Services in the US.

Trends and Insights

Emergency surface ambulance services is the largest service segment

  • Emergency surface ambulances are in high demand, providing immediate transportation for patients experiencing acute medical emergencies. They are equipped with advanced life support systems and staffed by trained EMTs or paramedics to provide critical care en route to medical facilities. Apart from first responders, there are few direct substitutes; however, private vehicles or taxis may be used in less severe cases, although they lack the necessary medical capabilities.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Ambulance services involve transporting patients by ground or air while providing medical care. These services are provided during medical and non-emergency situations with vehicles equipped with lifesaving equipment, operated by medically trained personnel.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Ambulance Services industry in the United States include Standby ambulance or first-aid servcies, Emergency surface ambulance, Emergency air ambulance (fixed wing), Nonemergency surface ambulance, Nonemergency air ambulance and Other services .

Companies

Companies covered in the Ambulance Services industry in the United States include .

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Ambulance Services industry in the United States include automatic vehicle location (avl), ambulance diversion, computer-aided dispatch (cad), public-private partnerships, basic life support (bls) and advanced life support ( als).

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 62191 - Ambulance Services in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Consolidation will enhance economies of scale and raise barriers to entry. Many ambulance service providers are privately owned, allowing larger providers to offer services a...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Most ground ambulance services are primarily related to emergency situations. Nearly two-thirds of calls are for emergencies, while nonemergency calls account for less than o...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The share of ambulance services aligns with a region's population share. More populated areas have more ambulance services. The type and number of providers at the local leve...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Quality and response times will be the criteria for determining price. Since most ambulance service revenue comes from emergency service rather than nonemergency services, hi...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the Ambulance Services in the US industry.

Analyst insights

This industry has no significant companies as it is highly fragmented. Service provision requires proximity to the population's services and services must be provided promptl...

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act requires hospitals to provide services regardless of their ability to pay. EMTALA's scope now includes almost all ambulan...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Depreciation fluctuates as technology advances and cost-saving equipment is adopted. To compete with substitutes, investment in technology and repairs leads to volatile depre...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2018-2023)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2018-2023)
  • Income Statement (2018-2023)
  • Balance Sheet (2018-2023)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2023)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Ambulance Services industry in the United States in 2025?

The market size of the Ambulance Services industry in the United States is $21.4bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Ambulance Services industry in the United States in 2025?

There are 3,139 businesses in the Ambulance Services industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.0 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Ambulance Services industry in the United States?

The Ambulance Services industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Ambulance Services industry in the United States?

The Ambulance Services industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Ambulance Services industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Ambulance Services industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 2.1 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Ambulance Services industry in the United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Ambulance Services industry in the United States is expected to grow.

What does the Ambulance Services industry in the United States include?

Standby ambulance or first-aid servcies and Emergency surface ambulance are part of the Ambulance Services industry in the United States.

How competitive is the Ambulance Services industry in the United States?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Ambulance Services industry in the United States.

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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