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What is a bus attendant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
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Whether you're on public transportation, taking a tour, or on a sponsored trip, you'll often see a bus attendant that keeps the system running smoothly. As a bus attendant, your primary duties are to keep the bus environment safe and clean for the passengers.

Your work environment can shift daily, from helping the elderly tour to cramming together a fourth-grade class on a field trip. Your responsibilities, however, will remain the same. Bus attendants should be comfortable interacting with others, as you'll often need to accommodate passengers, answer questions and offer directions, as well as inform anyone of safety violations.

The highest degree you'll need with most likely be a high school diploma or GED. Certification requirements will vary for each state, but having CPR, First Aid, and other relevant safety certifications should be on your resume regardless of your location. In the U.S., a bus attendant makes, on average, $12 an hour.

ScoreBus AttendantUS Average
Salary
2.1

Avg. Salary $27,387

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
6.5

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.70%

Asian 4.67%

Black or African American 29.44%

Hispanic or Latino 15.65%

Unknown 4.91%

White 44.63%

Gender

female 75.41%

male 24.59%

Age - 57
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 - 57
Stress Level
6.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
3.6

Complexity Level is basic

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
10.0

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Bus Attendant career paths

Key steps to become a bus attendant

  1. Explore bus attendant education requirements

    Most common bus attendant degrees

    High School Diploma

    47.8 %

    Associate

    17.7 %

    Diploma

    15.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific bus attendant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Cleanliness26.83%
    Safety Rules23.62%
    CPR13.28%
    Emergency Situations5.90%
    Seat Belts4.10%
  3. Complete relevant bus attendant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New bus attendants 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 attendant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real bus attendant resumes.
  4. Research bus attendant duties and responsibilities

    • Implement speech, occupational and ABA therapy strategies.
    • Attend certification class for first aid, CPR, equipment, and kindergarten/first grade training.
    • Transport patients utilizing safety, equipment and protocols throughout HFWH
    • Examine injure persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.
  5. Prepare your bus attendant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your bus attendant 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 attendant 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 Attendant Resume templates

    Build a professional Bus Attendant 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 Attendant resume.
    Bus Attendant Resume
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    Bus Attendant Resume
    Bus Attendant Resume
    Bus Attendant Resume
    Bus Attendant Resume
    Bus Attendant Resume
    Bus Attendant Resume
  6. Apply for bus attendant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a bus attendant 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 Attendant Job

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Average bus attendant salary

The average Bus Attendant salary in the United States is $27,387 per year or $13 per hour. Bus attendant salaries range between $22,000 and $33,000 per year.

Average Bus Attendant Salary
$27,387 Yearly
$13.17 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do bus attendants rate their job?

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Bus Attendant reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023
Cons

Not enough overtime , the hours are not enough, and since their are meaningful, being able to sign up for overtime helps . Then there are the class C drivers who take advantage of bus drivers, by cutting us off, or just not being aware that a 40ft/ 60ft bus can not stop on a dime And while class C drivers take unnecessary traffic risk. A bus driver must stay alert and expect the unexpected every minute under the wheel of a bus


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2022
Pros

The freedom to work on your own schedule.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020
Cons

It’s hard to get up so early! When I had a regular run I believed that those routes should have attendants to help control the students-instead of just special needs routes having them.


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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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