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The differences between bus drivers and transit 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 $36,195 average annual salary of a transit driver.
The top three skills for a bus driver include CDL, DOT and customer service. The most important skills for a transit driver are reliable transportation, CDL, and defensive driving.
| Bus Driver | Transit Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $36,879 | $36,195 |
| Hourly rate | $17.73 | $17.40 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 359,229 | 362,919 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Average age | 58 | 55 |
| 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.
A Transit Driver is tasked with driving passengers on already predetermined and specific routes along suburban or city streets and ensuring that they get to their destinations. He/She typically collects bus fares or tickets from passengers, answers questions on schedules and routes, and reports any traffic disruption or accidents to a central dispatcher. Aside from driving, you will need to also carry out routine check-ups of your bus tires, lights, oil, as well as perform other basic maintenance. You will also need to keep passengers informed of delays.
Bus drivers and transit drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Bus Driver | Transit Driver | |
| Average salary | $36,879 | $36,195 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $45,000 | Between $27,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | Nashua, NH | West Haven, CT |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Preston High School | Keurig Dr Pepper |
| Best paying industry | Education | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a bus driver and a transit driver in terms of educational background:
| Bus Driver | Transit Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between bus drivers' and transit drivers' demographics:
| Bus Driver | Transit Driver | |
| Average age | 58 | 55 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.1% Female, 48.9% | Male, 59.3% Female, 40.7% |
| 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, 25.1% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 4.9% White, 47.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |