Bus operator vs interstate bus driver

The differences between bus operators and interstate bus drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an interstate bus driver has an average salary of $53,891, 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 an interstate bus driver are CDL, OTR, and .

Bus operator vs interstate bus driver overview

	Bus Operator	Interstate Bus Driver
Yearly salary	$37,374	$53,891
Hourly rate	$17.97	$25.91
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	65,075	77,893
Job satisfaction	3.5	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 36%	Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Average age	55	55
Years of experience	-	-

Bus operator vs interstate bus driver salary

Bus operators and interstate bus drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Bus Operator	Interstate Bus Driver
Average salary	$37,374	$53,891
Salary range	Between $30,000 And $46,000	Between $30,000 And $96,000
Highest paying City	Newark, NJ	Spokane, WA
Highest paying state	Washington	New Jersey
Best paying company	Microsoft	Dyno Nobel
Best paying industry	Education	-

Differences between bus operator and interstate bus driver education

There are a few differences between a bus operator and an interstate bus driver in terms of educational background:

	Bus Operator	Interstate Bus Driver
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 36%	Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Most common major	Business	Computer Engineering
Most common college	-	-

Bus operator vs interstate bus driver demographics

Here are the differences between bus operators' and interstate bus drivers' demographics:

	Bus Operator	Interstate Bus Driver
Average age	55	55
Gender ratio	Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5%	Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3%
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 interstate bus driver 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

Interstate bus driver example responsibilities.

Conduct deliveries of medical equipment throughout Florida, collect payments, and ensure proper cleanliness of medical equipment
Observe high safety standards including strict federal HazMat regulations.

Bus operator vs interstate bus driver skills

Common bus operator skills

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

Common interstate bus driver skills

CDL, 95%
OTR, 5%

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Bus Operator
Bus Operator vs Interstate Bus Driver

Updated January 8, 2025

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