My job in Belgium: How much does an ambulance driver earn?

Peter Vandenameele performs his job with great passion. He is very interested in the emergency services and is a collector of miniature ambulances.

What is your job?
I work in the emergency department of the Sint-Andries Hospital in Tielt, where I am an ambulance driver for the 112 emergency services. Among other things I am the right handman of the emergency department nurses - I admit patients, I fill up the supplies, I help to settle the patient in the department, I keep the emergency service car and ambulance ready to go at all times and so on. In short, a very wide range of responsibilities. In addition, I still do volunteer work (a secondary job) with the fire brigade as an ambulance driver, where I earn a little extra.

Do you like your job?
It has always been my dream to work as an ambulance driver in an emergency service and to help people in medical emergencies. I am also a volunteer with the Red Cross, where I occasionally work with the preventative team.

Would you change your job for a higher salary?
No, certainly not, years ago I worked in the private sector and that was purely for the money. Now it is about much more than that. It's a wonderful job.

What exactly do you earn?
I earn around €1,800 net, which varies depending on the number of weekends and national holidays I work. Then there is the earnings from the fire brigade which depends on the amount of hours I work.

What do you think of your salary?
I am very happy with it.

How many hours a week do you work?
I am in a shift system of seven days at work, seven days rest at home, in other words 70 hours per week.

Do you save?
Yes, of course, I am saving for a house that I have in mind. That amount also varies.

Do you think of your pension?
I am in a retirement savings plan, like most people, and if my health allows I will definitely work past retirement age but part-time.

What is your biggest expense?
Now, this is the same as the daily living costs that everybody has but without the mortgage.

What can you definitely not spend money on?
On expensive clothes.

What do you gladly spend money on?
I go on holidays regularly, mostly budget-friendly holidays but I definitely don’t might spending money on these.

What would you do it you won the lottery?
I’d stop work for a short while and travel around the world, you only live once and the older you get the more you appreciate culture.