Bus driver salary
BLS occupation: Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity · also called transit bus driver · Transportation and material moving · data for May 2025
Median salary $59,050 a year, US
Median hourly pay $28.39 an hour
Middle half earn $47,530–$70,700 25th to 75th percentile
Bus drivers employed 159,240 +4.1% projected by 2035
How much does a bus driver make?
- The median bus driver salary in the US is $59,050 a year ($28.39 an hour): half of the 159,240 bus drivers BLS counts earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) is $60,280.
- The middle half earn between $47,530 and $70,700. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $40,030 and the top 10% more than $84,700.
- That is 16% more than the median for all US workers ($50,980).
- New York pays bus drivers the most (median $84,480), followed by Washington ($72,280) and Hawaii ($68,500). Arkansas pays the least ($37,520).
- After adjusting for prices, the pay goes furthest in New York, where the median is worth $78,279 in typical US prices, then Ohio and Washington.
- In 29 of the 168 metro areas with data, the median bus driver salary is enough to rent a typical home without spending more than 30% of income on rent.
- BLS projects the number of bus drivers to grow 4.1% from 2025 to 2035 (all jobs: 3.5%), with about 21,100 openings a year. The typical entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent.
official From BLS's survey of employers: what bus drivers are actually paid, not job ads or self-reports. Adjusted figures are derived. How we calculate.
How does your pay compare?
Bus driver salary range
Half of bus drivers earn between $47,530 and $70,700 a year
Yearly pay at each point of the range, US, May 2025. For comparison, the median for all US jobs is $50,980.
Lowest 10% earn under Yearly pay: $40,030
Lowest 25% earn under Yearly pay: $47,530
Median Yearly pay: $59,050
Top 25% earn over Yearly pay: $70,700
Top 10% earn over Yearly pay: $84,700
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Show the numbers
| Yearly pay | |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn under | $40,030 |
| Lowest 25% earn under | $47,530 |
| Median | $59,050 |
| Top 25% earn over | $70,700 |
| Top 10% earn over | $84,700 |
Bus driver salary by state
New York pays bus drivers the most; Arkansas the least
Median yearly pay by state compared with the US median ($59,050), May 2025. Blue = higher pay.
- 20%+ below US
- 10–20% below
- 3–10% below
- Within 3%
- 3–10% above
- 10–20% above
- 20%+ above US
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.
Show the numbers
| State | Median pay |
|---|---|
| New York | $84,480 median |
| Washington | $72,280 median |
| Hawaii | $68,500 median |
| California | $67,130 median |
| Oregon | $65,510 median |
| Massachusetts | $65,460 median |
| Maryland | $65,220 median |
| Illinois | $65,200 median |
| Alaska | $64,150 median |
| Colorado | $63,010 median |
| Ohio | $62,760 median |
| Nevada | $61,700 median |
| New Jersey | $61,140 median |
| Missouri | $60,660 median |
| Delaware | $60,510 median |
| Connecticut | $60,100 median |
| Indiana | $58,410 median |
| Maine | $57,870 median |
| District of Columbia | $55,580 median |
| New Hampshire | $54,830 median |
| Kentucky | $54,550 median |
| Arizona | $53,870 median |
| Vermont | $53,830 median |
| Virginia | $52,940 median |
| Wisconsin | $52,660 median |
| Pennsylvania | $51,360 median |
| Utah | $50,730 median |
| Oklahoma | $50,300 median |
| Minnesota | $50,200 median |
| Idaho | $49,000 median |
| North Dakota | $48,890 median |
| Louisiana | $48,860 median |
| Texas | $48,740 median |
| Rhode Island | $48,610 median |
| Florida | $48,300 median |
| Tennessee | $47,770 median |
| Michigan | $47,660 median |
| Iowa | $45,890 median |
| Montana | $45,640 median |
| Wyoming | $45,630 median |
| New Mexico | $45,610 median |
| Georgia | $45,500 median |
| Nebraska | $45,120 median |
| North Carolina | $44,060 median |
| South Carolina | $43,330 median |
| South Dakota | $41,590 median |
| Kansas | $41,340 median |
| West Virginia | $39,260 median |
| Mississippi | $38,570 median |
| Alabama | $37,700 median |
| Arkansas | $37,520 median |
Where bus driver pay goes furthest
A salary buys more where prices are low. We divide each state's median by its price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, so every figure is in typical US prices. derived
Bus drivers' pay goes furthest in New York once prices are counted
Median pay ÷ the state's price level (BEA, 2024; US = 100), shown in typical US prices. Top 10 states.
US median
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Our calculation.
Show the numbers
| Worth, in US prices | |
|---|---|
| New York | $78,279 |
| Ohio | $67,648 |
| Washington | $67,543 |
| Missouri | $66,794 |
| Illinois | $65,227 |
| Oregon | $63,380 |
| Alaska | $62,672 |
| Indiana | $62,585 |
| Hawaii | $62,300 |
| Maryland | $62,139 |
Bus driver pay in every state
| State | Median a year | Hourly | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Employed | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $84,480 | $40.62 | $57,610 | $84,700 | 16,770 | $78,279 |
| Washington | $72,280 | $34.75 | $55,520 | $93,180 | 6,960 | $67,543 |
| Hawaii | $68,500 | $32.93 | $46,870 | $68,500 | 2,190 | $62,300 |
| California | $67,130 | $32.27 | $48,600 | $90,810 | 24,380 | $60,630 |
| Oregon | $65,510 | $31.50 | $47,100 | $81,110 | 2,620 | $63,380 |
| Massachusetts | $65,460 | $31.47 | $50,380 | $93,500 | 3,970 | $61,897 |
| Maryland | $65,220 | $31.36 | $46,770 | $92,320 | 4,890 | $62,139 |
| Illinois | $65,200 | $31.35 | $47,270 | $85,990 | 8,650 | $65,227 |
| Alaska | $64,150 | $30.84 | $46,960 | $76,230 | 250 | $62,672 |
| Colorado | $63,010 | $30.29 | $50,870 | $71,090 | 3,540 | $61,144 |
| Ohio | $62,760 | $30.17 | $40,660 | $74,270 | 4,000 | $67,648 |
| Nevada | $61,700 | $29.66 | $43,590 | $90,540 | 2,540 | $61,713 |
| New Jersey | $61,140 | $29.39 | $48,340 | $70,700 | 6,420 | $56,192 |
| Missouri | $60,660 | $29.16 | $39,030 | $67,040 | 1,860 | $66,794 |
| Delaware | $60,510 | $29.09 | $39,390 | $65,710 | 380 | $60,626 |
| Connecticut | $60,100 | $28.89 | $44,130 | $75,040 | 1,830 | $58,006 |
| Indiana | $58,410 | $28.08 | $45,380 | $62,970 | 2,130 | $62,585 |
| Maine | $57,870 | $27.82 | $45,180 | $63,360 | 470 | $59,629 |
| District of Columbia | $55,580 | $26.72 | $50,070 | $58,390 | 150 | $50,573 |
| New Hampshire | $54,830 | $26.36 | $40,820 | $67,850 | 300 | $52,638 |
| Kentucky | $54,550 | $26.23 | $32,020 | $61,590 | 2,570 | $60,504 |
| Arizona | $53,870 | $25.90 | $39,350 | $72,140 | 3,240 | $53,508 |
| Vermont | $53,830 | $25.88 | $46,910 | $62,630 | 440 | $54,952 |
| Virginia | $52,940 | $25.45 | $39,430 | $76,170 | 3,800 | $52,362 |
| Wisconsin | $52,660 | $25.32 | $43,740 | $63,810 | 2,220 | $55,965 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,360 | $24.69 | $37,860 | $76,560 | 4,710 | $52,638 |
| Utah | $50,730 | $24.39 | $41,600 | $60,250 | 1,230 | $51,313 |
| Oklahoma | $50,300 | $24.18 | $37,380 | $65,400 | 1,760 | $57,261 |
| Minnesota | $50,200 | $24.13 | $43,430 | $62,480 | 2,610 | $50,902 |
| Idaho | $49,000 | $23.56 | $39,460 | $62,530 | 520 | $51,312 |
| North Dakota | $48,890 | $23.50 | $39,040 | $56,840 | 250 | $54,958 |
| Louisiana | $48,860 | $23.49 | $33,360 | $64,660 | 1,490 | $55,392 |
| Texas | $48,740 | $23.43 | $37,290 | $64,890 | 11,600 | $50,218 |
| Rhode Island | $48,610 | $23.37 | $44,550 | $64,600 | 70 | $47,526 |
| Florida | $48,300 | $23.22 | $37,070 | $71,380 | 9,130 | $46,705 |
| Tennessee | $47,770 | $22.97 | $39,530 | $58,900 | 1,970 | $51,997 |
| Michigan | $47,660 | $22.91 | $38,020 | $65,710 | 3,620 | $49,534 |
| Iowa | $45,890 | $22.06 | $35,520 | $60,730 | 1,560 | $52,289 |
| Montana | $45,640 | $21.94 | $38,920 | $57,380 | 450 | $48,222 |
| Wyoming | $45,630 | $21.94 | $39,740 | $62,940 | 130 | $49,228 |
| New Mexico | $45,610 | $21.93 | $35,460 | $48,350 | 580 | $49,462 |
| Georgia | $45,500 | $21.88 | $37,310 | $57,940 | 3,700 | $47,252 |
| Nebraska | $45,120 | $21.69 | $32,850 | $61,120 | 460 | $50,076 |
| North Carolina | $44,060 | $21.18 | $35,610 | $57,330 | 2,900 | $46,710 |
| South Carolina | $43,330 | $20.83 | $29,740 | $49,140 | 630 | $46,219 |
| South Dakota | $41,590 | $20.00 | $29,670 | $48,430 | 410 | $46,949 |
| Kansas | $41,340 | $19.88 | $29,290 | $50,800 | 430 | $45,899 |
| West Virginia | $39,260 | $18.88 | $30,710 | $49,430 | 520 | $43,867 |
| Mississippi | $38,570 | $18.54 | $30,210 | $44,630 | 400 | $44,357 |
| Alabama | $37,700 | $18.13 | $29,640 | $46,680 | 960 | $42,444 |
| Arkansas | $37,520 | $18.04 | $29,550 | $56,140 | 570 | $43,158 |
After cost of living = median ÷ (BEA price level ÷ 100).
Bus driver salary by city
Metro areas where BLS publishes bus driver pay: 169 of 387. Rent share = typical rent (September 2026, Zillow) × 12 ÷ the median salary; under 30% is affordable by the usual rule.
Highest-paying metro areas
- Las Vegas, NV $90,460
- Seattle, WA $83,430
- Portland, OR $80,170
- San Francisco, CA $78,900
- New York, NY $78,130
- Columbus, OH $73,790
- Salinas, CA $71,290
- Atlantic City, NJ $70,700
- Sacramento, CA $70,680
- Boston, MA $70,120
Where the pay goes furthest
- Las Vegas, NV $90,266
- Columbus, OH $77,292
- Portland, OR $76,047
- Seattle, WA $75,072
- Akron, OH $74,971
- Dayton, OH $72,734
- Atlantic City, NJ $71,517
- New York, NY $69,410
- Watertown, NY $69,130
- Springfield, MA $68,467
All 169 metro areas
| Metro area | Median a year | Employed | After cost of living | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas, NV | $90,460 | 2,180 | $90,266 | 23% |
| Seattle, WA | $83,430 | 4,430 | $75,072 | 32% |
| Portland, OR | $80,170 | 2,130 | $76,047 | 27% |
| San Francisco, CA | $78,900 | 5,540 | $68,245 | 52% |
| New York, NY | $78,130 | 19,770 | $69,410 | 54% |
| Columbus, OH | $73,790 | 700 | $77,292 | 25% |
| Salinas, CA | $71,290 | 180 | $65,378 | 47% |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $70,700 | 300 | $71,517 | 35% |
| Sacramento, CA | $70,680 | 810 | $66,260 | 39% |
| Boston, MA | $70,120 | 3,270 | $64,766 | 51% |
| Akron, OH | $70,000 | 360 | $74,971 | 22% |
| Honolulu, HI | $68,500 | 1,810 | $61,733 | 53% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $68,020 | 10,140 | $59,895 | 52% |
| Dayton, OH | $67,420 | 270 | $72,734 | 23% |
| Boulder, CO | $66,840 | – | $63,535 | 39% |
| Denver, CO | $66,590 | 2,140 | $62,950 | 34% |
| Springfield, MA | $65,770 | 290 | $68,467 | 36% |
| Eugene, OR | $65,510 | 290 | $64,499 | 32% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $65,370 | 280 | $64,800 | 35% |
| Bremerton, WA | $65,360 | 250 | $61,890 | 38% |
| Washington, DC | $65,220 | 4,070 | $59,899 | 44% |
| Chicago, IL | $65,200 | 7,080 | $62,937 | 40% |
| Anchorage, AK | $63,450 | 150 | $60,188 | 36% |
| Portland, ME | $63,360 | 240 | $62,204 | 43% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $63,010 | 380 | $62,568 | 34% |
| Burlington, VT | $62,630 | 180 | $62,041 | 50% |
| Rochester, NY | $62,420 | 460 | $64,327 | 29% |
| Fresno, CA | $62,170 | – | $60,857 | 40% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $61,470 | 960 | $64,235 | 30% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $61,360 | 980 | $63,299 | 30% |
| San Diego, CA | $61,290 | 1,720 | $54,778 | 58% |
| Spokane, WA | $61,250 | 420 | $61,039 | 30% |
| Lincoln, NE | $61,120 | 140 | $66,739 | 25% |
| Louisville, KY | $61,100 | 1,130 | $65,647 | 26% |
| St. Louis, MO | $61,080 | 1,110 | $64,235 | 28% |
| Kahului, HI | $61,030 | 130 | $55,790 | 63% |
| Allentown, PA | $60,750 | 350 | $60,769 | 36% |
| Watertown, NY | $60,620 | 70 | $69,130 | 30% |
| Worcester, MA | $60,470 | 180 | $58,982 | 42% |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $60,320 | 180 | $55,964 | 53% |
| Hartford, CT | $60,100 | 840 | $58,494 | 40% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $59,720 | 1,410 | $63,082 | 29% |
| Eau Claire, WI | $59,660 | 40 | $64,292 | 23% |
| Napa, CA | $59,560 | 170 | $52,917 | 59% |
| Kansas City, MO | $59,360 | 680 | $64,143 | 31% |
| Bridgeport, CT | $59,120 | 410 | $55,323 | 58% |
| Des Moines, IA | $58,930 | 290 | $64,263 | 26% |
| Harrisburg, PA | $58,870 | 200 | $59,676 | 30% |
| Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $58,490 | 340 | $53,454 | 46% |
| Providence, RI | $57,980 | 280 | $56,970 | 45% |
| Baltimore, MD | $57,800 | 2,420 | $55,318 | 40% |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $57,780 | 370 | $52,577 | 72% |
| Davenport, IA | $57,500 | 70 | $64,549 | 21% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $57,400 | 670 | $63,490 | 29% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $57,050 | 1,500 | $54,426 | 37% |
| Phoenix, AZ | $57,020 | 2,180 | $55,190 | 36% |
| Riverside, CA | $56,940 | 1,550 | $53,494 | 53% |
| Missoula, MT | $56,570 | 70 | $58,655 | 34% |
| Dallas, TX | $56,120 | 2,280 | $54,438 | 35% |
| Cincinnati, OH | $56,110 | 1,060 | $58,834 | 33% |
| Lexington, KY | $54,740 | 250 | $58,931 | 35% |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $54,140 | 100 | $49,855 | 62% |
| Oxnard, CA | $53,560 | 190 | $48,456 | 66% |
| Boise, ID | $53,050 | 170 | $53,918 | 44% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $53,020 | 1,830 | $51,700 | 43% |
| Trenton, NJ | $53,020 | 460 | $51,386 | 57% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $52,950 | 130 | $59,519 | 28% |
| Cleveland, OH | $52,610 | 1,510 | $56,014 | 33% |
| Sheboygan, WI | $52,540 | – | $55,885 | 31% |
| Johnstown, PA | $52,440 | 120 | $61,027 | 20% |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $52,360 | 160 | $52,190 | 49% |
| Nashville, TN | $52,100 | 1,160 | $54,080 | 42% |
| Albany, NY | $52,000 | 170 | $52,227 | 39% |
| Ogden, UT | $51,990 | 190 | $51,809 | 38% |
| Midland, TX | $51,950 | 70 | $54,237 | 36% |
| Orlando, FL | $51,790 | 1,820 | $51,066 | 45% |
| Norwich, CT | $51,480 | 90 | $51,252 | 49% |
| Syracuse, NY | $51,210 | 50 | $53,487 | 38% |
| Fort Collins, CO | $51,070 | 30 | $50,500 | 46% |
| Champaign, IL | $51,010 | 390 | $55,025 | 33% |
| Peoria, IL | $50,930 | 210 | $55,825 | 27% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $50,900 | 510 | $53,273 | 38% |
| San Antonio, TX | $50,880 | 1,270 | $53,718 | 33% |
| Topeka, KS | $50,800 | 60 | $57,194 | 30% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $50,730 | 550 | $50,293 | 39% |
| Houston, TX | $50,430 | 3,400 | $51,131 | 39% |
| Richmond, VA | $50,270 | 470 | $51,370 | 41% |
| Buffalo, NY | $50,220 | 150 | $52,398 | 35% |
| Iowa City, IA | $49,590 | 160 | $54,191 | 43% |
| Waterbury, CT | $49,500 | 170 | $49,610 | – |
| Tulsa, OK | $49,440 | 370 | $55,417 | 33% |
| Evansville, IN | $49,430 | 70 | $54,005 | 27% |
| Huntington, WV | $49,430 | 60 | $55,902 | 26% |
| Scranton, PA | $49,310 | 260 | $52,706 | 33% |
| Bakersfield, CA | $49,000 | 330 | $48,570 | 45% |
| Fargo, ND | $48,890 | 130 | $53,802 | 27% |
| New Orleans, LA | $48,860 | 930 | $52,766 | 39% |
| Miami, FL | $48,300 | 3,620 | $42,311 | 66% |
| Pittsfield, MA | $48,200 | 70 | $50,680 | 44% |
| Rockford, IL | $48,200 | 190 | $52,304 | 32% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $48,120 | 590 | $48,370 | 42% |
| Reno, NV | $48,080 | 330 | $47,597 | 52% |
| Youngstown, OH | $48,030 | 60 | $54,958 | 26% |
| Charlottesville, VA | $47,950 | 240 | $48,363 | 51% |
| Bozeman, MT | $47,920 | 60 | $46,747 | 55% |
| Fort Smith, AR | $47,910 | 70 | $55,782 | 27% |
| Flint, MI | $47,660 | 260 | $51,229 | 26% |
| Memphis, TN | $47,580 | 290 | $51,617 | 35% |
| Columbus, GA | $47,570 | 80 | $53,272 | 34% |
| Detroit, MI | $47,460 | 980 | $47,319 | 38% |
| Midland, MI | $47,050 | 110 | $51,185 | 35% |
| Michigan City, IN | $46,910 | 30 | $51,166 | 31% |
| Santa Fe, NM | $46,900 | 90 | $47,485 | 50% |
| Austin, TX | $46,860 | 1,700 | $47,784 | 41% |
| Tampa, FL | $46,830 | 1,180 | $46,417 | 51% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $46,810 | 690 | $47,794 | 48% |
| Raleigh, NC | $46,800 | 410 | $47,679 | 43% |
| Deltona, FL | $46,790 | 210 | $47,088 | 45% |
| York, PA | $46,760 | 320 | $48,708 | 35% |
| Omaha, NE | $46,740 | 90 | $50,854 | 36% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $46,510 | 200 | $48,678 | 38% |
| Durham, NC | $46,460 | 560 | $47,616 | 42% |
| Atlanta, GA | $46,430 | 2,590 | $46,403 | 48% |
| Las Cruces, NM | $46,430 | 100 | $51,468 | 38% |
| Clarksville, TN | $46,190 | 70 | $50,788 | 35% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | $46,140 | 60 | $46,959 | 49% |
| Roanoke, VA | $45,760 | 130 | $48,879 | 37% |
| Chattanooga, TN | $45,700 | 120 | $49,965 | 40% |
| Beaumont, TX | $45,620 | 130 | $50,663 | 34% |
| Sioux Falls, SD | $45,450 | 130 | $50,148 | 33% |
| North Port, FL | $45,330 | 260 | $44,260 | 56% |
| Bismarck, ND | $45,130 | 70 | $49,580 | 35% |
| Hagerstown, MD | $44,810 | 100 | $47,584 | 43% |
| Cape Coral, FL | $44,760 | 240 | $43,733 | 49% |
| Columbia, SC | $44,750 | 130 | $47,778 | 42% |
| Mankato, MN | $44,730 | 30 | $49,178 | 33% |
| Wausau, WI | $44,440 | 60 | $47,965 | 26% |
| Greensboro, NC | $44,060 | 350 | $47,445 | 38% |
| Jefferson City, MO | $43,980 | 50 | $49,991 | 28% |
| Janesville, WI | $43,740 | 180 | $46,679 | 35% |
| Sioux City, IA | $43,720 | 70 | $50,570 | 36% |
| Greenville, SC | $43,330 | 170 | $46,462 | 43% |
| Charlotte, NC | $42,830 | 800 | $43,997 | 49% |
| McAllen, TX | $42,360 | 190 | $49,316 | 32% |
| Huntsville, AL | $41,910 | 110 | $45,030 | 40% |
| Little Rock, AR | $41,350 | 250 | $46,271 | 36% |
| Wichita, KS | $41,340 | 80 | $46,478 | 35% |
| Lakeland, FL | $41,030 | 90 | $42,238 | 53% |
| Charleston, SC | $40,580 | 50 | $40,193 | 60% |
| Springfield, MO | $39,600 | – | $44,703 | 38% |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ | $39,120 | 50 | $41,574 | 47% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $39,110 | 90 | $42,203 | 44% |
| Longview, TX | $38,990 | 40 | $43,572 | 35% |
| Tyler, TX | $38,990 | 40 | $42,309 | 40% |
| Killeen, TX | $38,800 | – | $42,576 | 40% |
| El Paso, TX | $38,730 | 440 | $43,075 | 47% |
| Jackson, MS | $38,570 | 120 | $43,314 | 46% |
| Bowling Green, KY | $38,310 | 140 | $42,482 | 38% |
| Birmingham, AL | $37,890 | 270 | $41,345 | 44% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $37,780 | 40 | $43,068 | 53% |
| Lawton, OK | $37,640 | 120 | $43,797 | 36% |
| Texarkana, TX | $37,280 | 40 | $44,375 | 40% |
| Abilene, TX | $37,010 | 50 | $40,957 | 65% |
| Monroe, LA | $36,950 | 210 | $44,200 | 38% |
| Dothan, AL | $36,920 | 30 | $44,040 | 39% |
| Fayetteville, AR | $36,920 | 90 | $40,415 | 51% |
| Brownsville, TX | $35,250 | 110 | $41,000 | 51% |
| Hot Springs, AR | $32,720 | 40 | $38,166 | 45% |
| Enid, OK | $22,520 | 50 | $26,724 | 59% |
What the median bus driver salary pays per paycheck
| Period | Before taxes |
|---|---|
| Year | $59,050 |
| Month | $4,921 |
| Every two weeks | $2,271 |
| Week | $1,136 |
| Hour | $28.39 |
Gross pay, 52 weeks a year, 2,080 hours. Hourly to salary calculator.
Becoming a bus driver: education and job outlook
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
|---|---|
| Work experience needed | None |
| On-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
| Projected change in jobs, 2025–35 | +4.1% (all jobs: +3.5%) |
| Openings a year (average) | 21,100 |
| Self-employed | 1.7% |
official BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. Openings include workers who retire or change jobs. What the work involves: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Similar jobs
| Job | Median a year | Typical education |
|---|---|---|
| Truck driver | $58,640 | Postsecondary certificate |
| Train conductor | $78,000 | High school diploma |
| Air traffic controller | $148,080 | Associate's degree |
| Airline pilot | $232,140 | Bachelor's degree |
| Flight attendant | $63,580 | High school diploma |
| Forklift operator | $46,420 | No formal education |
| Warehouse worker | $40,240 | No formal education |
| School bus driver | $47,920 | High school diploma |
Questions about bus driver pay
How much does a bus driver make an hour?
The median is $28.39 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $19.25 and the top 10% over $40.72.
How much does a bus driver make a month?
About $4,921 a month before taxes at the median salary of $59,050, or $2,271 every two weeks.
What state pays bus drivers the most?
New York, with a median of $84,480. Washington ($72,280), Hawaii ($68,500), California ($67,130) and Oregon ($65,510) follow.
Where do bus drivers make the most after cost of living?
New York: its median of $84,480 is worth $78,279 at typical US prices. Ohio, Washington and Missouri come next.
How much do entry-level bus drivers make?
BLS does not report pay by experience. The lowest-paid 10% of bus drivers earn under $40,030 a year, and the lowest-paid quarter under $47,530, which is a reasonable guide to starting pay.
What education do you need to become a bus driver?
BLS lists the typical entry-level education as a high school diploma or equivalent. Work experience in a related job: none. On-the-job training: moderate-term on-the-job training.
Sources and limits
- Pay and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation 53-3052 (Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity). Downloaded 2026-10-24.
- OEWS counts wage and salary workers at employers, including tips and commissions but not overtime pay, bonuses that are not tied to production, or benefits. It leaves out the self-employed. BLS does not publish figures above $239,200 a year or for states and metro areas with too few workers.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (US = 100). Rents: Zillow Observed Rent Index, September 2026; Data Provided by Zillow Group.
- Outlook and education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Pay is not broken down by experience, employer or specialty (for example, ER or pediatric nursing); BLS does not publish those splits.