Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified these details of bus driver salary by state for the United States as of 2026:
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Massachusetts has the highest bus driver salary at $43,160
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Tennessee has the lowest bus driver salary at $29,210
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The national average salary for bus drivers is $36,879
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The national hourly pay for bus drivers is $17.73
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
In surveys across various demographics, salary consistently ranks as the most critical aspect of a job for most people. For many aspiring bus drivers, a primary question is, “How much do bus drivers earn in my area?” This article aims to provide clarity on that issue.
While many factors influence individual salaries, we have compiled comprehensive data on average salaries for bus drivers by state in the U.S., segmented by seniority level. Although your local salary may vary from state averages, these figures offer a reliable estimate for what you can expect.
The state offering the best salary for bus drivers, after adjustments for local cost of living and other factors, remains Massachusetts.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the top ten states for bus driver salaries in 2026:
Let’s take a look at how we gathered this information and the full ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Bus Drivers By State
| Rank | State | Average Bus Driver Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $43,160 | $36,000 | $51,000 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $43,027 | $35,000 | $52,000 |
| 3 | Washington | $42,308 | $35,000 | $50,000 |
| 4 | Vermont | $42,296 | $36,000 | $49,000 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $41,665 | $35,000 | $49,000 |
| 6 | Alaska | $39,746 | $36,000 | $43,000 |
| 7 | California | $39,594 | $31,000 | $49,000 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $39,205 | $32,000 | $47,000 |
| 9 | New York | $39,144 | $31,000 | $48,000 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $38,865 | $31,000 | $47,000 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $38,851 | $31,000 | $48,000 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $38,704 | $32,000 | $45,000 |
| 13 | Oregon | $38,113 | $31,000 | $46,000 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $38,108 | $30,000 | $47,000 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $38,068 | $31,000 | $46,000 |
| 16 | Maine | $37,827 | $32,000 | $43,000 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $37,375 | $31,000 | $45,000 |
| 18 | Colorado | $36,877 | $30,000 | $45,000 |
| 19 | Montana | $36,853 | $30,000 | $43,000 |
| 20 | Idaho | $36,579 | $30,000 | $44,000 |
| 21 | Maryland | $35,971 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $35,868 | $29,000 | $43,000 |
| 23 | Michigan | $35,733 | $29,000 | $43,000 |
| 24 | Arizona | $35,704 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $35,663 | $30,000 | $41,000 |
| 26 | Utah | $35,517 | $28,000 | $43,000 |
| 27 | Texas | $35,226 | $27,000 | $44,000 |
| 28 | Virginia | $35,198 | $27,000 | $44,000 |
| 29 | Nevada | $34,916 | $28,000 | $43,000 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $34,844 | $27,000 | $43,000 |
| 31 | Ohio | $34,767 | $28,000 | $42,000 |
| 32 | Iowa | $34,456 | $28,000 | $42,000 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $33,979 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 34 | Delaware | $33,917 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 35 | Illinois | $33,909 | $27,000 | $41,000 |
| 36 | Kansas | $33,551 | $27,000 | $41,000 |
| 37 | Alabama | $33,454 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $33,418 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $33,382 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 40 | Missouri | $33,039 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 41 | Indiana | $32,937 | $26,000 | $40,000 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $32,755 | $25,000 | $41,000 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $32,484 | $25,000 | $41,000 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $32,238 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $32,159 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 46 | Georgia | $32,106 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 47 | Florida | $30,899 | $23,000 | $40,000 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $30,845 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $30,419 | $24,000 | $37,000 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $29,210 | $23,000 | $36,000 |
Methodology: Bus Driver Salary By State
To better understand bus driver pay by state, Zippia has aggregated data from multiple channels, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Federal Labor Commission (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). We supplement this data with actual salaries listed in job postings. The Zippia data science team then calculates a weighted average of these inputs to create an average pay for bus drivers by state.
Using this average annual salary data, we have ranked every state according to this criterion, with the state offering the highest salary ranking as the top average salary for bus drivers.
Bus Driver Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for bus drivers?
The highest-paid state for bus drivers is Massachusetts with an average salary of $43,160 per year.
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What city pays bus drivers the most?
Nashua, NH pays bus drivers the most with an average salary of $41,569 per year.
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What is the worst state for bus drivers?
The worst state for bus drivers is Tennessee with an average salary of $29,210 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
