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Bus driver salary
Average bus driver salary
$36,879
Average Bus Driver Salary
The current average salary for bus drivers in the United States is $36,879 annually or approximately $18 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on geographic location, years of experience, and the specific employer. For instance, bus drivers in metropolitan areas tend to earn more than those in rural settings.
Salary by State
States like California and New York typically offer higher wages compared to the national average, while states with a lower cost of living may present lower salary figures. Understanding these geographic disparities is essential for anyone considering a career in this field.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience also plays a crucial role in salary determination. Entry-level bus drivers may start at lower wages, but those with several years in the profession often command significantly higher pay. Additionally, specialized positions such as school bus drivers or transit operators may offer different salary scales.
Conclusion
Exploring salary estimates across various sources can provide a clearer picture of potential earnings. By considering factors like location and experience, prospective bus drivers can better gauge their earning potential and make informed career decisions.
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Where can a Bus Driver earn more?
Bus driver salary estimates from across the web
Average bus driver salary by state
The highest-paying states for bus drivers are Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Washington. The lowest average bus driver salary states are Oklahoma, Georgia, and Florida.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for bus drivers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $39,205 | $18.85 |
| 2 | Vermont | $42,296 | $20.33 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | $38,865 | $18.69 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $38,108 | $18.32 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $43,027 | $20.69 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $41,665 | $20.03 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $43,160 | $20.75 |
| 8 | Washington | $42,308 | $20.34 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $34,844 | $16.75 |
| 10 | South Dakota | $35,868 | $17.24 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $38,704 | $18.61 |
| 12 | New York | $39,144 | $18.82 |
| 13 | Ohio | $34,767 | $16.71 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $37,375 | $17.97 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $38,068 | $18.30 |
| 16 | California | $39,594 | $19.04 |
| 17 | Idaho | $36,579 | $17.59 |
| 18 | Oregon | $38,113 | $18.32 |
| 19 | Iowa | $34,456 | $16.57 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $33,979 | $16.34 |
| 21 | Maine | $37,827 | $18.19 |
| 22 | Michigan | $35,733 | $17.18 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $38,851 | $18.68 |
| 24 | Alaska | $39,746 | $19.11 |
| 25 | Texas | $35,226 | $16.94 |
| 26 | Montana | $36,853 | $17.72 |
| 27 | Alabama | $33,454 | $16.08 |
| 28 | Kansas | $33,551 | $16.13 |
| 29 | Arizona | $35,704 | $17.17 |
| 30 | Colorado | $36,877 | $17.73 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $33,382 | $16.05 |
| 32 | Utah | $35,517 | $17.08 |
| 33 | Nevada | $34,916 | $16.79 |
| 34 | Maryland | $35,971 | $17.29 |
| 35 | Indiana | $32,937 | $15.84 |
| 36 | Delaware | $33,917 | $16.31 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $32,755 | $15.75 |
| 38 | Illinois | $33,909 | $16.30 |
| 39 | Virginia | $35,198 | $16.92 |
| 40 | Missouri | $33,039 | $15.88 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $33,418 | $16.07 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $32,159 | $15.46 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $32,484 | $15.62 |
| 44 | District of Columbia | $37,550 | $18.05 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $30,845 | $14.83 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $32,238 | $15.50 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $35,663 | $17.15 |
| 48 | Georgia | $32,106 | $15.44 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $30,419 | $14.62 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $29,210 | $14.04 |
| 51 | Florida | $30,899 | $14.86 |
Highest paying cities for bus drivers
The highest-paying cities for bus drivers are Nashua, NH, Newark, CA, and Rochester, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashua, NH | $41,569 | $19.99 |
| 2 | Newark, CA | $40,087 | $19.27 |
| 3 | Rochester, NY | $39,583 | $19.03 |
| 4 | Newark, NJ | $39,027 | $18.76 |
| 5 | Waukesha, WI | $38,751 | $18.63 |
| 6 | Fargo, ND | $38,584 | $18.55 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $38,161 | $18.35 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $38,152 | $18.34 |
| 9 | Minneapolis, MN | $37,296 | $17.93 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $36,863 | $17.72 |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $36,043 | $17.33 |
| 12 | Peoria, AZ | $35,726 | $17.18 |
| 13 | Detroit, MI | $35,691 | $17.16 |
| 14 | Clearfield, UT | $35,510 | $17.07 |
| 15 | Carson City, NV | $35,443 | $17.04 |
| 16 | San Marcos, TX | $35,225 | $16.94 |
| 17 | Newark, DE | $34,063 | $16.38 |
| 18 | DeKalb, IL | $33,946 | $16.32 |
| 19 | Saint Louis, MO | $32,956 | $15.84 |
| 20 | Indianapolis, IN | $32,827 | $15.78 |
Bus Drivers are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Bus driver salary details
A bus driver's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $45,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a bus driver's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| Average | $36,879 | $3,073 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
Highest paying bus driver jobs
The highest paying types of bus drivers are truck driver, dump truck driver, and mixer driver.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Bus Monitor | $26,704 | $2,225 | $12.84 | 27,486 |
| Bus Attendant | $27,387 | $2,282 | $13.17 | 51,391 |
| Bus Monitor | $26,958 | $2,246 | $12.96 | 11,422 |
| Transportation Driver | $43,236 | $3,603 | $20.79 | 1,006,562 |
| Bus Operator | $37,374 | $3,115 | $17.97 | 65,075 |
| Dump Truck Driver | $55,857 | $4,655 | $26.85 | 702,361 |
Top companies hiring bus drivers now:
Which companies pay bus drivers the most?
Bus driver salaries at Preston High School and Spartanburg School District Three are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average bus driver salary at companies like Dublin City Schools and Irving Isd are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preston High School | $44,246 | $21.27 |
| 2 | Spartanburg School District Three | $44,077 | $21.19 |
| 3 | Dublin City Schools | $43,964 | $21.14 |
| 4 | Irving Isd | $43,867 | $21.09 |
| 5 | Notre Dame of Maryland University | $43,508 | $20.92 |
| 6 | Goleta Union School District | $43,267 | $20.80 |
| 7 | Ohlone College | $43,216 | $20.78 |
| 8 | Strongsville City Schools | $42,517 | $20.44 |
| 9 | North Arlington School District Nj | $42,492 | $20.43 |
| 10 | Alexandria City Public Schools | $42,453 | $20.41 |
| 11 | Academy of Art University | $42,421 | $20.39 |
| 12 | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | $42,397 | $20.38 |
| 13 | Bryant & Stratton College | $42,355 | $20.36 |
| 14 | Grand View University | $42,334 | $20.35 |
| 15 | Michigan State University | $42,292 | $20.33 |
| 16 | Forsyth Country Day School | $42,181 | $20.28 |
| 17 | Marple Newtown SD | $42,082 | $20.23 |
| 18 | Madera High School | $41,832 | $20.11 |
| 19 | Township High School District 113 | $41,673 | $20.04 |
| 20 | Topeka Public Schools | $41,379 | $19.89 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Bus driver salary trends
The average bus driver salary has risen by $7,635 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average bus driver earned $29,244 annually, but today, they earn $36,879 a year. That works out to a 18% change in pay for bus drivers over the last decade.
Compare bus driver salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average bus driver salary over time
Compare bus driver salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Bus driver salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,900 | $17.73 | +5.0% |
| 2024 | $35,000 | $16.84 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $33,700 | $16.22 | +4.2% |
| 2022 | $32,300 | $15.53 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | $31,400 | $15.08 | +2.2% |
Recently added bus driver salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Educate Kansas | District Bus Driver | Scranton, KS | 06/30/2025 | $38,610 |
| Northwestern College | Activity Bus Driver | Powell, WY | 06/30/2025 | $44,557 |
| Oregon Public Schools | Bus Driver-Route 29 | Grants Pass, OR | 06/30/2025 | $46,457 |
| United Tribes Technical College | Custodian/Bus Driver | Bismarck, ND | 06/30/2025 | $40,175 |
| Pursuit | Glacier Raft Co Bus Driver | Pony, MT | 06/30/2025 | $54,262 |
| Gobeacon | Charter Bus Driver | Lynn, MA | 06/30/2025 | $52,175 |
| Coachusa | Charter Bus Driver | New Brunswick, NJ | 06/29/2025 | $48,001 |
| Transdev Services, Inc. | Bus Driver | San Diego, CA | 06/29/2025 | $44,871 |
| Mv Transportation | GVT Bus Driver | Grand Junction, CO | 06/29/2025 | $44,349 |
| Transdevna | Bus Driver | Irvine, CA | 06/29/2025 | $42,074 |
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