How to hire a paratransit driver

How to hire a paratransit driver, step by step

Here's a step-by-step paratransit driver hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a paratransit driver job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new paratransit driver
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The paratransit driver hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A paratransit driver's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, paratransit drivers 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of paratransit drivers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Paratransit Driver	Description	Hourly rate
   Paratransit Driver	Taxi drivers and chauffeurs drive people to and from the places they need to go, such as airports, homes, shopping centers, and workplaces. They must know their way around a city to take passengers to their destinations.	$12-23
   School Bus Driver	A school bus driver is responsible for students' safe transportation during school days or any related events. Aside from ensuring that the students get to their destination on time, a school bus driver must ensure to abide by the traffic laws and regulations at all times and follow particular routes for picking-up and dropping off students... Show more	$14-22
   Commercial Driver	A commercial driver is responsible for transporting people, goods, and services from one place to various destinations as required. Commercial drivers must have a clean driving record to ensure the safety and security of the passengers and the merchandise's quality while on the road... Show more	$16-29

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • Transport Passengers
   • Vehicle Inspections
   • GPS
   • Safety Rules
   • Reliable Transportation
   • Customer Service
   • CPR
   • Disabilities ACT
   • Door Service
   • Two-Way Radio
   • Wheelchair Lifts
   • Scooters
   • Developmental Disabilities

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Accomplish CDL license with endorsement in doubles/triples.
   • Contract through MTA; drive disabled clients to doctor's appointments, dialysis, and work.
   • Operate hydraulic equipment, GPS and computerize radio communication systems.
   • Respond to medical emergencies include administering first-aid and relay requests for services and transportation of patients to medical emergencies or appointments.
   • Assist with wheelchairs and stretchers during transport.
   • Deliver customers to their destination/homes/doorsteps with luggage/baggage groceries

   More paratransit driver duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your paratransit driver job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A paratransit driver can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, paratransit drivers' average salary in florida is 35% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level paratransit drivers 48% less than senior-level paratransit drivers.
   • Certifications. A paratransit driver with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a paratransit driver's salary.

   Average paratransit driver salary

   $35,386yearly

   $17.01 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level paratransit driver salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average paratransit driver salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Connecticut	$45,496	$22
   2	New York	$45,467	$22
   3	New Hampshire	$44,372	$21
   4	New Jersey	$39,904	$19
   5	Hawaii	$39,765	$19
   6	Oregon	$39,702	$19
   7	Iowa	$39,467	$19
   8	Maryland	$38,800	$19
   9	Washington	$38,395	$18
   10	Illinois	$37,664	$18
   11	Pennsylvania	$37,077	$18
   12	California	$36,727	$18
   13	Michigan	$36,280	$17
   14	Virginia	$36,164	$17
   15	Colorado	$35,773	$17
   16	Wisconsin	$35,353	$17
   17	Indiana	$34,253	$16
   18	Arizona	$33,907	$16
   19	Nevada	$33,290	$16
   20	Missouri	$32,880	$16

   Average paratransit driver salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Johnson Central High School	$37,399	$17.98	4
   2	First Transit	$36,884	$17.73
   3	Transdev Services, Inc.	$36,874	$17.73	165
   4	Keolis Transit America	$36,772	$17.68
   5	FIRST	$36,125	$17.37	1
   6	MV Transportation	$35,976	$17.30	99
   7	CAREPARTNERS FOUNDATION	$35,839	$17.23
   8	Keystone Quality Transport	$35,785	$17.20	4
   9	Bruce Transportation Group	$35,768	$17.20
   10	Ambulnz	$35,104	$16.88	5
   11	Pace Inc	$34,907	$16.78
   12	HealthTrust	$34,769	$16.72
   13	The Dart Network	$33,125	$15.93
   14	Via of the Lehigh Valley	$32,403	$15.58	1
   15	City of Davis	$30,642	$14.73
   16	CDT Inc.	$30,563	$14.69

4. Writing a paratransit driver job description

   A good paratransit driver job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a paratransit driver job description:

   Paratransit driver job description example

   • $17 per hour starting rate
   • Full Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance for qualified candidates)
   • Paid Training, Holidays and Vacation
   • Sundays off
   • Company provides personal protection equipment (PPE) as the safety and well-being of our employees and the passengers we serve remains our #1 priority!
   • Career Advancement and opportunity to grow

   Qualifications:

   Driver Minimum Requirements:

   • Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug screen and DOT physical.
   • Must have a CDL with Passenger Endorsement.
   • Possess excellent communication and decision-making skills.

   We can put you on the road to a great career helping others!

   During the course of employment, employees may receive and have access to confidential information. All employees are expected to respect and maintain the confidentiality of non-public customer and business records and any other information that MV classifies as confidential.

   MV Transportation is committed to as policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. The information collected by this application is solely to determine suitability for employment, verify identity and maintain employment statistics on applicants.

   Where permissible under applicable state and local law, applicants may be subject to a pre-employment drug test and background check after receiving a conditional offer of employment.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find paratransit drivers 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 paratransit drivers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level paratransit drivers 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 paratransit driver job on Zippia to find and recruit paratransit driver candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit paratransit drivers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   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 paratransit driver

   Once you've found the paratransit driver candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new paratransit driver. 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.)

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