Coach operator vs transit bus driver

The differences between coach operators and transit bus drivers 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 $37,247 average annual salary of a transit bus driver.

The top three skills for a coach operator include transport passengers, safety rules and customer service. The most important skills for a transit bus driver are passenger endorsement, DOT, and safety rules.

Coach operator vs transit bus driver overview

	Coach Operator	Transit Bus Driver
Yearly salary	$44,612	$37,247
Hourly rate	$21.45	$17.91
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	43,963	355,403
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 31%	High School Diploma, 35%
Average age	55	55
Years of experience	-	-

Coach operator vs transit bus driver salary

Coach operators and transit bus drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Coach Operator	Transit Bus Driver
Average salary	$44,612	$37,247
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $69,000	Between $30,000 And $45,000
Highest paying City	Hayward, CA	Everett, WA
Highest paying state	New Jersey	New Jersey
Best paying company	Bank of America	LAZ Parking
Best paying industry	Technology	Real Estate

Differences between coach operator and transit bus driver education

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

	Coach Operator	Transit Bus Driver
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 31%	High School Diploma, 35%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Coach operator vs transit bus driver demographics

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

	Coach Operator	Transit Bus Driver
Average age	55	55
Gender ratio	Male, 63.8% Female, 36.2%	Male, 64.4% Female, 35.6%
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 coach operator and transit bus driver duties and responsibilities

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

Transit bus driver example responsibilities.

Train in CPR, and the individual needs of the clients.
Charter arraign trips to Ohio and NYC.
Perform daily vehicle inspection in accordance with CDL requirements.
Implement the extensive public relations training acquire from RTA.
Transport passengers to and from destinations/ CDL license with air-brake endorsement.
Read maps, GPS, follow written and verbal geographic direction.

Coach operator vs transit bus driver skills

Common coach operator skills

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

Common transit bus driver skills

Passenger Endorsement, 16%
DOT, 15%
Safety Rules, 10%
Two-Way Radio, 9%
Transport Passengers, 6%
Customer Service, 6%

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Coach Operator
Coach Operator vs Transit Bus Driver

Updated January 8, 2025

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