How to hire a bus mechanic

How to hire a bus mechanic, step by step

Here's a step-by-step bus mechanic 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 mechanic job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new bus mechanic
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a bus mechanic, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or 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 mechanic's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, bus mechanics 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 shows salaries for various types of bus mechanics.

   Type of Bus Mechanic	Description	Hourly rate
   Bus Mechanic	Diesel service technicians and mechanics inspect, repair, and overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engine.	$16-30
   Shop Technician	Shop Technicians are skilled workers assigned to a retail store. Their main activities depend on the nature of the business their company is in... Show more	$12-25
   Diesel Technician	Diesel technicians specialize in repairing and handling the maintenance of vehicles powered by diesel. They are primarily responsible for inspecting cars, conducting tests, and identifying its problems to determine what course of action to take... Show more	$15-31

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Diesel Engines
   • ASE
   • Hand Tools
   • DOT
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Electrical Systems
   • Safety Devices
   • Oil Changes
   • Electrical Troubleshooting
   • Driveline
   • A/C
   • Bus Maintenance

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Accomplish several other kenworth basic training modules.Skills UsedProblem solving, mechanical aptitude, and efficient workmanship.
   • Perform all electrical and HVAC repairs.
   • Obtain ASE for school bus body and specialty equipment.
   • Raise buses, and heavy parts or equipment using hydraulic jacks and hoists.
   • Perform p.m. services, brake jobs, a/c work, electrical and computer diagnostics.
   • Repair of buses with hydraulics and maintain facilities lifts, HVAC, air systems and grounds.

   More bus mechanic duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the bus mechanic job description is a good way to get more applicants. A bus mechanic 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 mechanic in Wyoming may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level bus mechanic. Additionally, a bus mechanic with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average bus mechanic salary

   $47,198yearly

   $22.69 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level bus mechanic salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average bus mechanic salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$60,077	$29
   2	Massachusetts	$59,257	$28
   3	Virginia	$54,657	$26
   4	Connecticut	$54,656	$26
   5	New York	$54,211	$26
   6	Maryland	$52,482	$25
   7	New Jersey	$51,770	$25
   8	Oregon	$50,447	$24
   9	Illinois	$47,957	$23
   10	North Carolina	$47,564	$23
   11	Wisconsin	$47,520	$23
   12	Ohio	$47,036	$23
   13	Texas	$46,241	$22
   14	Kansas	$44,958	$22
   15	Tennessee	$44,451	$21
   16	Indiana	$43,614	$21
   17	Florida	$42,383	$20
   18	Arizona	$42,105	$20
   19	Missouri	$40,091	$19

   Average bus mechanic salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	SDST Spartans	$55,912	$26.88	4
   2	Ontario-Montclair School District	$55,743	$26.80
   3	Chicago Transit Authority	$53,120	$25.54	4
   4	TriMet	$53,000	$25.48	2
   5	NJ Transit	$52,785	$25.38
   6	Wentzville R Iv School District	$52,721	$25.35	7
   7	Portland Public Schools	$51,852	$24.93
   8	Transdev Services, Inc.	$51,817	$24.91	327
   9	Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority	$51,782	$24.90	4
   10	FIRST	$51,294	$24.66
   11	First Student	$50,946	$24.49	1,217
   12	Golden Gate Bridge	$50,640	$24.35
   13	First Transit	$50,327	$24.20
   14	Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County	$50,052	$24.06	4
   15	Bruce Transportation Group	$49,863	$23.97
   16	MV Transportation	$49,712	$23.90	38
   17	Eagle County	$49,133	$23.62	1
   18	The Next Level	$48,912	$23.52
   19	Xanterra	$48,741	$23.43	7
   20	Tulare Western High School	$48,102	$23.13

4. Writing a bus mechanic job description

   A bus mechanic job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a bus mechanic job description:

   Bus mechanic job description example

   New Wage of up to $27.25 with potential incentive earnings!

   Benefits and Perks:

   The starting wage for this position is $21/hr. plus monthly incentives based on job completion rate: $150 - $1000 per month, equivalent to $0.94/hour to $6.25/hour!!

   Hertz is an organization where you Drive , your Potential , Power your Passion! Below are a few perks and discounts :

   • 40% off any standard Hertz Rental
   • Discounted Travel and Food
   • Tuition Discounts
   • Tuition Reimbursement
   • Pet Insurance
   • Career Growth with hands-on learning

   Essential Requirements:

   Job Description:

   The Bus Technician performs vehicle repairs without oversight. Additional responsibilities include preventive maintenance, completing appropriate paperwork and reports. Must have the ability to use shop equipment such as lifts, scan tools, tire changing and alignment machines. Follow all company service and safety procedures. Maintain a safe and clean environment.

   Union

   This position is in a union environment and the scheduling is subject to shift bid. New employees can expect to work the following schedule 2pm-10pm as well as overtime hours.

   Qualifications:

   Three years of professional automotive repair experience required. Must have your own tools in which to perform basic preventative maintenance. A valid driver’s license is required.

   Apply today and shift your career into drive for tomorrow !

   :

   At Hertz, we champion and celebrate a culture of diversity and inclusion. We take affirmative steps to promote employment and advancement opportunities. The endless variety of perspectives, experiences, skills and talents that our employees invest in their work every day represent a significant part of our culture – and our success and reputation as a company.

   Individuals are encouraged to apply for positions because of the characteristics that make them unique.

   Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Hertz is a drug free workplace.

   EOE, including disability/veteran

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find bus mechanics for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any bus mechanics they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level bus mechanics with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with bus mechanic candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 mechanic

   Once you've decided on a perfect bus mechanic candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new bus mechanic. 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a bus mechanic?