How to hire a bus driver

How to hire a bus driver, step by step

Here's a step-by-step bus driver hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a bus driver job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new bus driver
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a bus driver do?

Post a bus driver job for free, promote it for a fee

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your bus driver job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a bus driver for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A bus driver's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, bus drivers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents bus driver salaries for various positions.

   Type of Bus Driver	Description	Hourly rate
   Bus Driver	Bus drivers transport people between various places—including work, school, and shopping malls—and across state or national borders. Some drive regular routes, and others transport passengers on chartered trips or sightseeing tours.	$13-21
   School Bus Monitor	A school bus monitor works closely with the bus driver to ensure safety while students are entering, riding, and leaving the bus. The bus monitor ensures discipline and assistance... Show more	$9-15
   Bus Attendant	A Bus Attendant performs a variety of support tasks to ensure that passengers get to receive optimal services. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their place or industry of employment, it typically revolves around answering questions about bus routes and other services, directing passengers on and off the bus, assisting passengers with special or particular needs, adjusting seats, and handling documents... Show more	$10-15

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • DOT
   • Customer Service
   • Safety Rules
   • CPR
   • Passenger Endorsement
   • Vehicle Inspections
   • Post-Trip Inspections
   • Transport Passengers
   • Safety Procedures
   • Transport Children
   • Bus Stops
   • Safety Regulations
   • Air Brakes

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Demonstrate knowledge of designate routes in metro area.
   • Provide transportation for city of buffalo residents by driving metro city bus.
   • Work as the employee trainer for CDL's as well as performed orientation for all new employees.
   • Drive on narrow streets, in high traffic areas, around trolleys, and heavy pedestrian areas.
   • Operate a bus carrying passengers in accordance with the rules and regulation of the MTA bus company.
   • Help riders with wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, and other conditions board and exit the bus safely.

   More bus driver duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the bus driver job description is a good way to get more applicants. A bus driver salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a bus driver in Oklahoma may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level bus driver. Additionally, a bus driver with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average bus driver salary

   $36,879yearly

   $17.73 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level bus driver salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average bus driver salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Hampshire	$41,569	$20
   2	California	$40,087	$19
   3	New York	$39,583	$19
   4	New Jersey	$39,027	$19
   5	Wisconsin	$38,751	$19
   6	North Dakota	$38,584	$19
   7	Oregon	$38,161	$18
   8	Pennsylvania	$38,152	$18
   9	Minnesota	$37,296	$18
   10	Colorado	$36,863	$18
   11	Maryland	$36,043	$17
   12	Arizona	$35,726	$17
   13	Michigan	$35,691	$17
   14	Utah	$35,510	$17
   15	Nevada	$35,443	$17
   16	Texas	$35,225	$17
   17	Delaware	$34,063	$16
   18	Illinois	$33,946	$16
   19	Missouri	$32,956	$16
   20	Indiana	$32,827	$16

   Average bus driver salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Preston High School	$44,246	$21.27
   2	Spartanburg School District Three	$44,077	$21.19	4
   3	Dublin City Schools	$43,964	$21.14	5
   4	Irving Isd	$43,867	$21.09	3
   5	Notre Dame of Maryland University	$43,508	$20.92
   6	Goleta Union School District	$43,267	$20.80
   7	Ohlone College	$43,216	$20.78
   8	Strongsville City Schools	$42,517	$20.44	7
   9	North Arlington School District Nj	$42,492	$20.43	2
   10	Alexandria City Public Schools	$42,453	$20.41
   11	Academy of Art University	$42,421	$20.39
   12	Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES	$42,397	$20.38
   13	Bryant & Stratton College	$42,355	$20.36
   14	Grand View University	$42,334	$20.35
   15	Michigan State University	$42,292	$20.33
   16	Forsyth Country Day School	$42,181	$20.28
   17	Marple Newtown SD	$42,082	$20.23	2
   18	Madera High School	$41,832	$20.11	3
   19	Township High School District 113	$41,673	$20.04	2
   20	Topeka Public Schools	$41,379	$19.89	5

4. Writing a bus driver job description

   A good bus driver job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a bus driver job description:

   Bus driver job description example

   At Greyhound, we value our drivers. Our Motor Coach Operators can expect an annual income of $55,000 - $70,000 based on salary, OT and additional earning opportunities. You will earn while you learn during our professional training program and take advantage of generous benefit packages that include medical, dental, vision, free travel, 401K with company match and more.

   Our drivers come to us with varying amounts of experience but ultimately become part of a cohesive, industry leading team that proudly serves the transportation needs of communities across the nation under an iconic brand. Greyhound drivers exemplify what it means to uphold superior standards. They carry themselves in a professional manner, in appearance and with every customer interaction. We look for experience that includes safe driving, positive past work experience, and a superior work ethic.

   Additionally, candidates should be:

   • Fully Licensed with a CDL (A/B) and Passenger Endorsement for 16+passengers
   • A minimum of 22 years of age and able to pass a DOT physical
   • Capable of successfully completing the Greyhound driver training program
   • Able to report to work location within a two-hour time period

   To learn more about a driving career at Greyhound, view our Driver recruiting video: Driver Recruiting Video

   We would also like to learn more about you. The driver quick apply online application should take approximately 5 to 10 minutes to complete. View Greyhound Lines 2021 Executive Safety Message

   For additional information, visit www.careers.greyhound.com

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right bus driver for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with bus drivers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit bus drivers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your bus driver job on Zippia to find and recruit bus driver candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit bus drivers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new bus driver

   Once you've found the bus driver candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new bus driver. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a bus driver?