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The differences between bus drivers and shuttle drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a bus driver has an average salary of $36,879, which is higher than the $35,367 average annual salary of a shuttle driver.
The top three skills for a bus driver include CDL, DOT and customer service. The most important skills for a shuttle driver are CDL, DOT, and tractor trailer.
| Bus Driver | Shuttle Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $36,879 | $35,367 |
| Hourly rate | $17.73 | $17.00 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 20% |
| Number of jobs | 359,229 | 416,879 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Average age | 58 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Bus drivers are mainly responsible for safely transporting passengers to their destinations. Bus drivers must be attentive and highly focused to monitor road situations at all times, avoiding any cause of accidents. A bus driver must also ensure to follow all safety policies and procedures during the travel. Bus drivers should also be knowledgeable in monitoring the engine's condition, spot any unusual signals and inconsistencies of the vehicle system that might compromise everyone's safety and comfortability.
Shuttle bus drivers offer a route with limited stops or fast transportation services. The drivers are expected to drive following a specific way or a set of schedules. They must be familiar with the route through reading reports and studying maps. It is their responsibility to maintain contact with the dispatcher. They track the pick-ups and drop-offs of the passengers whenever necessary. When asked questions, they should respond politely and in a friendly manner. They should be equipped with skills in customer service, be professional, and should have stamina.
Bus drivers and shuttle drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Bus Driver | Shuttle Driver | |
| Average salary | $36,879 | $35,367 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $45,000 | Between $22,000 And $54,000 |
| Highest paying City | Nashua, NH | Manchester, NH |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Preston High School | A. Duie Pyle |
| Best paying industry | Education | Professional |
There are a few differences between a bus driver and a shuttle driver in terms of educational background:
| Bus Driver | Shuttle Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between bus drivers' and shuttle drivers' demographics:
| Bus Driver | Shuttle Driver | |
| Average age | 58 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.1% Female, 48.9% | Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 2.7% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 23.9% Asian, 9.3% White, 52.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 6% |