Bus operator vs coach operator

The differences between bus operators and coach operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a coach operator has an average salary of $44,612, which is higher than the $37,374 average annual salary of a bus operator.

The top three skills for a bus operator include transport passengers, CDL and safety rules. The most important skills for a coach operator are transport passengers, safety rules, and customer service.

Bus operator vs coach operator overview

	Bus Operator	Coach Operator
Yearly salary	$37,374	$44,612
Hourly rate	$17.97	$21.45
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	65,075	43,963
Job satisfaction	3.5	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 36%	High School Diploma, 31%
Average age	55	55
Years of experience	-	-

Bus operator vs coach operator salary

Bus operators and coach operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Bus Operator	Coach Operator
Average salary	$37,374	$44,612
Salary range	Between $30,000 And $46,000	Between $28,000 And $69,000
Highest paying City	Newark, NJ	Hayward, CA
Highest paying state	Washington	New Jersey
Best paying company	Microsoft	Bank of America
Best paying industry	Education	Technology

Differences between bus operator and coach operator education

There are a few differences between a bus operator and a coach operator in terms of educational background:

	Bus Operator	Coach Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 36%	High School Diploma, 31%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Bus operator vs coach operator demographics

Here are the differences between bus operators' and coach operators' demographics:

	Bus Operator	Coach Operator
Average age	55	55
Gender ratio	Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5%	Male, 63.8% Female, 36.2%
Race ratio	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%	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%

Differences between bus operator and coach operator duties and responsibilities

Bus operator example responsibilities.

Follow maps and electronic GPS as needed.
Operate various types of company vehicles that require CDL certification.
Perform a complete visual safety check of each bus driven on a daily basis, completing daily pre and post-trip checklists.
Assist passengers with special needs in wheelchairs and walkers to be safely transport in the bus.
Train and supervise bus assistants on proper procedures for handling disable children in walkers and wheel chairs.
Assemble wires together for RV 's

Coach operator example responsibilities.

Train newly hire drivers to obtain CDL for public transit system.
Used GPS navigation skills to make sure customer are on time for press schedules and events.
Operate wheelchair lift, and providing assistance to passengers with wheelchairs or scooters by properly securing them.
Secure and transport disabled passengers with various styles of wheelchairs, scooters, walkers and carts according to U.S. ADA standards.
Familiarize with company PPE policies and operating procedures.
Shift safety auditor- safety audits, incident investigations, PPE verification

Bus operator vs coach operator skills

Common bus operator skills

Transport Passengers, 32%
CDL, 12%
Safety Rules, 11%
Vehicle Inspections, 8%
Customer Service, 7%
Passenger Endorsement, 4%

Common coach operator skills

Transport Passengers, 31%
Safety Rules, 15%
Customer Service, 8%
Incident Reports, 7%
CDL, 7%
DOT, 5%

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Transportation Industry
Bus Operator
Bus Operator vs Coach Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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