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What is a bus and rail operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a bus and rail operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $16.26 an hour? That's $33,817 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 32,800 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreBus And Rail OperatorUS Average
Salary
2.6

Avg. Salary $33,817

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
10.0

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.35%

Asian 4.93%

Black or African American 17.49%

Hispanic or Latino 15.70%

Unknown 4.04%

White 56.50%

Gender

female 12.00%

male 88.00%

Age - 48
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48
Stress level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.6

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.1

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a bus and rail operator

  1. Explore bus and rail operator education requirements

    Most common bus and rail operator degrees

    Associate

    50.0 %

    High School Diploma

    35.7 %

    Bachelor's

    7.1 %
  2. Complete relevant bus and rail operator training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New bus and rail operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a bus and rail operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real bus and rail operator resumes.
  3. Research bus and rail operator duties and responsibilities

    • Secure and transport disabled passengers with various styles of wheelchairs, scooters, walkers and carts according to U.S. ADA standards.
    • Service and maintain the LACT units.
  4. Prepare your bus and rail operator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your bus and rail operator resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a bus and rail operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable bus and rail operator resume templates

    Build a professional bus and rail operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your bus and rail operator resume.
    Bus And Rail Operator Resume
    Bus And Rail Operator Resume
    Bus And Rail Operator Resume
    Bus And Rail Operator Resume
    Bus And Rail Operator Resume
    Bus And Rail Operator Resume
    Bus And Rail Operator Resume
    Bus And Rail Operator Resume
    Bus And Rail Operator Resume
  5. Apply for bus and rail operator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a bus and rail operator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first bus and rail operator job

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Average bus and rail operator salary

The average bus and rail operator salary in the United States is $33,817 per year or $16 per hour. Bus and rail operator salaries range between $23,000 and $48,000 per year.

Average bus and rail operator salary
$33,817 Yearly
$16.26 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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