A primary coil (130) and a secondary coil (140) are situated in the ejector, which has a resiliently mounted movable piston (110) to eject fluid through a nozzle (122). A drive signal is applied to cause current to flow in the primary coil (130). The current flow generates a magnetic field that induces a current in the secondary coil (140). Either the primary coil (130) or the secondary coil (140) is associated with the piston (110) and the other is associated with a fixed structure (120) of the ejector. As a result, a magnetic force is generated that pushes the piston (110) either toward a nozzle plate (120) so that a drop is ejected through the nozzle (122) or away from the nozzle plate so that fluid fills the chamber. When the drive signal is turned off, the piston resiliently returns to its at-rest position, thereby either refilling the ejected fluid or ejecting a drop of fluid through the nozzle (122). In other embodiments, the nozzle plate is made of a magnetic material, or is coated with or connected to a magnetic material. Switching the direction of the current changes the magnetic force between attraction and repulsion and may be used positively to move the piston in both directions.