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First Student salaries
First Student salary estimate
$36,923yearly
First Student Salaries Overview
At First Student, the average annual salary stands at $36,923. This figure varies based on job roles and locations. High-demand positions often command higher pay, particularly in management and specialized service roles. Understanding how these salaries are structured can help prospective employees gauge their earning potential.
Salary by Department
Each department at First Student offers unique compensation packages. For example, those in operational roles may see different salary ranges compared to administrative positions. Exploring these differences is crucial for job seekers aiming to align their expectations with what First Student offers.
Location Impact on Earnings
Salary variations also occur by location. Salaries in metropolitan areas typically exceed those in rural settings, reflecting the cost of living and market demand. By examining these factors, candidates can better assess their potential earnings when considering a position at First Student.
Highest paying jobs at First Student
The highest paying jobs at First Student are store manager, diesel mechanic, diesel technician, and maintenance technician. Store manager jobs at First Student earn an average yearly salary of $61,549, First Student diesel mechanic jobs average $54,293, and First Student diesel technician jobs average $49,525.
The lowest paying First Student roles include bus monitor and dispatcher. First Student bus monitor average salary is $28,214 per year. So while the average First Student salary is $36,923 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.
Highest paying jobs at First Student
| Rank | Job title | Average First Student salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Store Manager | $61,549 | $29.59 |
| 2 | Diesel Mechanic | $54,293 | $26.10 |
| 3 | Diesel Technician | $49,525 | $23.81 |
| 4 | Maintenance Technician | $44,219 | $21.26 |
| 5 | School Bus Driver | $37,713 | $18.13 |
| 6 | CDL Driver | $37,379 | $17.97 |
| 7 | Dispatcher | $36,413 | $17.51 |
| 8 | Bus Monitor | $28,214 | $13.56 |
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How much does First Student pay by location?
Highest paying First Student locations
| Rank | Location | Average First Student salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield, MA | $43,141 | $20.74 |
| 2 | Tacoma, WA | $41,880 | $20.13 |
| 3 | Ketchikan, AK | $40,992 | $19.71 |
| 4 | Berlin, VT | $40,682 | $19.56 |
| 5 | Bethel, CT | $40,193 | $19.32 |
| 6 | Nashua, NH | $40,055 | $19.26 |
| 7 | Providence, RI | $39,159 | $18.83 |
| 8 | East Orange, NJ | $39,111 | $18.80 |
| 9 | Augusta, ME | $39,039 | $18.77 |
| 10 | Buffalo, NY | $39,026 | $18.76 |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $38,021 | $18.28 |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $37,732 | $18.14 |
| 13 | Milwaukee, WI | $37,296 | $17.93 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $37,089 | $17.83 |
| 15 | Los Angeles, CA | $36,908 | $17.74 |
| 16 | Baltimore, MD | $36,812 | $17.70 |
| 17 | Billings, MT | $36,001 | $17.31 |
| 18 | Flint, MI | $35,982 | $17.30 |
| 19 | Indianapolis, IN | $35,583 | $17.11 |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | $35,553 | $17.09 |
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First Student salaries by department
Salaries at First Student vary depending on the department you work in. First Student salaries in the plant/manufacturing department are the highest with an average salary of $51,606. Employees in the facilities department at First Student receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $42,497 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at First Student include the hospitality/service and the warehouse organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $36,270 and $36,311, respectively.
Average First Student salary by department
| Rank | Department | Average First Student salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plant/Manufacturing | $51,606 | $24.81 |
| 2 | Facilities | $42,497 | $20.43 |
| 3 | Supply Chain | $40,394 | $19.42 |
| 4 | Warehouse | $36,312 | $17.46 |
| 5 | Hospitality/Service | $36,271 | $17.44 |
How much does First Student pay by department?
Best paying First Student hospitality/service salaries
| Rank | Position | Average First Student salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charter Driver | $37,987 | $18.26 |
| 2 | School Bus Driver | $37,713 | $18.13 |
| 3 | Bus Monitor | $28,214 | $13.56 |
Best paying First Student warehouse salaries
| Rank | Position | Average First Student salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Driver | $35,587 | $17.11 |
Best paying First Student facilities salaries
| Rank | Position | Average First Student salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maintenance Manager | $82,230 | $39.53 |
| 2 | Safety Manager | $71,558 | $34.40 |
| 3 | Safety Coordinator | $66,708 | $32.07 |
| 4 | Diesel Mechanic | $54,293 | $26.10 |
| 5 | Dispatcher/Driver | $53,306 | $25.63 |
| 6 | Bus Mechanic | $50,946 | $24.49 |
| 7 | Dispatcher Supervisor | $45,564 | $21.91 |
| 8 | Charge Preparation Technician | $44,805 | $21.54 |
| 9 | Maintenance Technician | $44,219 | $21.26 |
| 10 | Lead Dispatch | $40,759 | $19.60 |
| 11 | Shop Helper | $31,691 | $15.24 |
| 12 | Monitor | $29,890 | $14.37 |
First Student competitors’ average salaries
Average salaries at First Student competitors, like Student Transportation Inc., Brown Bus, and Lamers Bus Lines, vary. Student Transportation Inc. employees earn the highest salaries, with an average yearly salary of $44,329. The average salary at Brown Bus is $43,003 per year, and the average salary at Lamers Bus Lines is $39,035 per year.
Highest paying First Student competitors
| Rank | Company name | Zippia score | Average salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Student Transportation Inc. | 3.3 | $44,329 |
| 2 | Brown Bus | 4.0 | $43,003 |
| 3 | Lamers Bus Lines | 4.2 | $39,035 |
| 4 | Transdev Services, Inc. | 4.2 | $38,958 |
| 5 | GO Riteway | 3.9 | $38,398 |
| 6 | Krapf Group | 4.4 | $38,320 |
| 7 | Rohrer Bus | 3.6 | $38,275 |
| 8 | First Transit | 4.7 | $38,235 |
| 9 | RideSTA | 4.2 | $37,509 |
| 10 | Apple Bus | 4.4 | $37,312 |
| 11 | Sunrise Transportation | 3.6 | $37,286 |
| 12 | Petermann Bus | 3.3 | $37,055 |
| 13 | Minnesota Coaches | 3.9 | $36,981 |
| 14 | MV Transportation | 4.5 | $36,761 |
| 15 | Cyr Northstar Tours | 3.8 | $36,687 |
| 16 | Voigt's Motorcoach Travel | 3.2 | $36,532 |
| 17 | Durham School Services | 4.4 | $36,380 |
| 18 | Atlantic Express | 3.7 | $36,204 |
| 19 | Dean Transportation | 4.0 | $35,131 |
| 20 | NRT Bus | 3.7 | $34,296 |
Recently added First Student salaries
| Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| School Bus Driver | Gulfport, MS | 06/30/2025 | $39,862 |
| School Bus Driver | Newark, DE | 06/28/2025 | $48,585 |
| School Bus Driver | Indianapolis, IN | 06/28/2025 | $59,480 |
| School Bus Driver | Greensboro, NC | 06/28/2025 | $39,653 |
| School Bus Driver | Little Rock, AR | 06/28/2025 | $45,914 |
What employees say about salary at First Student
The diversity of the work environment.
Just not enough work hours. 4 on 4 off. It's just not paying the bills.
The 4 hour break between runs.
Easy to work with.
So far it is just fine. I have only been there for a year. Just got my feet wet.
I already had experience with school bus driving from STA.
Below average.
That seems to be just fine.
Moving children to and from school.
Sometimes your paycheck is correct
Incorrect pay, management is micromanaged, poor wage, favoritism, no growth, implies a rule like cpi raises then takes them away when not beneficial.
There are none.
Nothing to report here. Met the team lead one time. Leadership of my manager is trash. Constant complaining and micromanaging
Frequently asked questions about First Student salaries
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Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of First Student, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about First Student. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at First Student. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by First Student. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of First Student and its employees or that of Zippia.
First Student may also be known as or be related to First Student, First Student, Inc., FirstGroup America and Firstgroup Usa Inc.