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The differences between bus drivers and van 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 $36,254 average annual salary of a van driver.
The top three skills for a bus driver include CDL, DOT and customer service. The most important skills for a van driver are CDL, customer service, and OTR.
| Bus Driver | Van Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $36,879 | $36,254 |
| Hourly rate | $17.73 | $17.43 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 359,229 | 791,293 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Average age | 58 | 48 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
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 van driver is responsible for operating a wide and a larger-sized vehicle than a regular car, usually used as a company shuttle to pick up and drop employees to designated areas. Van drivers should have a clean driving record, ensuring the safety and comfortability of the passengers while on the road. They should also be familiar with the location, considering alternative routes for any road complications to avoid delays. A van driver must have comprehensive knowledge of the mechanical industry, inspecting the engine's condition, and perform repairs as necessary.
Bus drivers and van drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Bus Driver | Van Driver | |
| Average salary | $36,879 | $36,254 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $45,000 | Between $24,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Nashua, NH | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Preston High School | DVFSchool |
| Best paying industry | Education | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a bus driver and a van driver in terms of educational background:
| Bus Driver | Van 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 van drivers' demographics:
| Bus Driver | Van Driver | |
| Average age | 58 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.1% Female, 48.9% | Male, 65.9% Female, 34.1% |
| 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, 12.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 3.6% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 4% |