School Bus Driver Demographics and Statistics In The US
Research Summary. Using a database of 30 million profiles, Zippia estimates demographics and statistics for school bus drivers in the United States. Our estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- There are over 135,092 school bus drivers currently employed in the United States.
- 55.3% of all school bus drivers are women, while 44.7% are men.
- The average age of an employed school bus driver is 57 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of school bus drivers is White (69.1%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (14.6%), Black or African American (8.1%) and Unknown (4.6%).
- School bus drivers are most in-demand in New York, NY.
- The education industry is the highest-paying for school bus drivers.
- 9% of all school bus drivers are LGBT.
School Bus Driver Statistics By Gender
55.3% of school bus drivers are women and 44.7% of school bus drivers are men.
- Female, 55.3%
- Male, 44.7%
School Bus Drivers By Gender
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 55.3% |
| Male | 44.7% |
Gender Pay Gap For School Bus Driver
Women Earn 98ยข For Every $1 Earned By Men
School Bus Driver Gender Over Time
This data shows how men and women predominate in the school bus driver position over time.
School Bus Driver Gender By Year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 43.45% | 56.55% |
| 2011 | 43.97% | 56.03% |
| 2012 | 42.82% | 57.18% |
| 2013 | 45.17% | 54.83% |
| 2014 | 44.07% | 55.93% |
| 2015 | 46.05% | 53.95% |
| 2016 | 46.60% | 53.40% |
| 2017 | 46.04% | 53.96% |
| 2018 | 44.66% | 55.34% |
| 2019 | 43.59% | 56.41% |
| 2020 | 44.15% | 55.85% |
| 2021 | 44.68% | 55.32% |
School Bus Driver Male to Female Ratio
We compared this job title with other job titles to see how gender percentages varied. As you can see, diesel truck driver and tank wagon driver have the biggest difference in gender.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Matron | 11% | 89% |
| Bus Escort | 18% | 82% |
| Bus Monitor | 19% | 81% |
| School Bus Driver | 45% | 55% |
| Wrecker Operator | 99% | 1% |
| Tank Wagon Driver | 99% | 1% |
| Diesel Truck Driver | 100% | 0% |
School Bus Driver Statistics By Race
The most common ethnicity among school bus drivers is White, which makes up 69.1% of all school bus drivers. Comparatively, there are 14.6% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and 8.1% of the Black or African American ethnicity.
- White, 69.1%
- Hispanic or Latino, 14.6%
- Black or African American, 8.1%
- Unknown, 4.6%
- Asian, 2.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
School Bus Driver Race
| School Bus Driver Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 69.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 14.6% |
| Black or African American | 8.1% |
| Unknown | 4.6% |
| Asian | 2.6% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.0% |
School Bus Driver Race And Ethnicity Over Time
Using the Census Bureau data, we found out how the percentage of each ethnic category trended between 2010-2019 among school bus drivers.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
School Bus Driver Race By Year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 67.19% | 16.02% | 1.76% | 12.55% |
| 2011 | 65.71% | 16.12% | 2.44% | 12.85% |
| 2012 | 66.54% | 15.25% | 2.33% | 12.92% |
| 2013 | 65.71% | 15.58% | 2.27% | 13.55% |
| 2014 | 66.56% | 15.41% | 2.03% | 13.30% |
| 2015 | 66.26% | 15.21% | 2.48% | 13.38% |
| 2016 | 63.92% | 15.85% | 2.85% | 14.23% |
| 2017 | 65.56% | 14.62% | 2.45% | 14.24% |
| 2018 | 68.52% | 10.07% | 3.25% | 15.09% |
| 2019 | 71.80% | 8.63% | 3.13% | 13.69% |
| 2020 | 69.73% | 7.82% | 2.65% | 14.39% |
| 2021 | 69.06% | 8.09% | 2.60% | 14.56% |
School Bus Driver Wage Gap By Race
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $37,851 |
| White | $37,832 |
| Black or African American | $37,975 |
| Asian | $38,621 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $38,288 |
School Bus Driver JOBS
Average Age of a School Bus Driver
We determined the average age of school bus drivers based on ethnicity and gender.
School Bus Driver Age By Race
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 58 | 55 |
| Unknown | 59 | 55.5 |
| Asian | 54 | 56 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 57 | 53 |
| White | 64 | 57 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 58 |
School Bus Driver Age Breakdown
This chart breaks down the ages of school bus driver employees. Interestingly enough, the average age of school bus drivers is 40+ years old, which represents 95% of the population.
School Bus Driver Age
| School Bus Driver Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 95% |
| 30-40 years | 5% |
| 20-30 years | 0% |
Types of School Bus Driver Degree Levels
The most common degree for school bus drivers is high school diploma 35% of school bus drivers earn that degree. A close second is associate degree with 24% and rounding it off is bachelor's degree with 19%.
- High School Diploma, 35%
- Associate, 24%
- Bachelors, 19%
- Diploma, 11%
- Other Degrees, 11%
School Bus Drivers By Education
| School Bus Driver Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 35% |
| Associate | 24% |
| Bachelors | 19% |
| Diploma | 11% |
| Other Degrees | 11% |
School Bus Driver Jobs You Might Like
School Bus Driver Wage Gap By Education
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $38,347 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $37,818 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $38,189 |
School Bus Driver Employment Statistics
This section highlights information about where school bus drivers work. We found most school bus drivers work for a education company. In addition, the industry that employs the most school bus drivers is the education industry.
Company Size
We created this chart to show you the average size of companies that typically hire school bus drivers.
School Bus Driver Jobs By Employer Size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 12% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 22% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 27% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 24% |
| > 10,000 employees | 7% |
The Types Of Companies School Bus Driver Work In
Employees with the school bus driver job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most school bus drivers prefer to work at education companies over private companies.
School Bus Driver Jobs By Sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 62% |
| Public | 2% |
| Private | 30% |
| Government | 6% |
Top Industries Hiring School Bus Drivers
Just based on the number of employees within each industry, we were able to determine the most common industries that employ school bus drivers. Those industries include education, transportation and government.
School Bus Driver Industry Statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 62% |
| Transportation | 11% |
| Government | 6% |
| Professional | 3% |
| Technology | 3% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Manufacturing | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Retail | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
School Bus Driver Turnover And Employment Statistics
School Bus Driver Unemployment Rate Over Time
The Bureau of Labor Statistics came in clutch when it came down to figuring out how the unemployment rate has changed over time. Between 2008 and 2018, this is how the number of school bus drivers changed.
- Unemployment rate
School Bus Driver Unemployment Rate By Year
| Year | School Bus Driver Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 5.89% |
| 2011 | 5.65% |
| 2012 | 5.76% |
| 2013 | 4.98% |
| 2014 | 4.12% |
| 2015 | 3.73% |
| 2016 | 3.25% |
| 2017 | 3.45% |
| 2018 | 4.03% |
| 2019 | 2.92% |
| 2020 | 6.97% |
| 2021 | 6.83% |
The Average Number of Years That School Bus Driver Stay in a Job
By looking over 27,741 school bus drivers resumes, we figured out that the average school bus driver enjoys staying at their job for 1-2 years for a percentage of 26%.
School Bus Driver Tenure
| Number or Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 17% |
| 1-2 years | 26% |
| 3-4 years | 15% |
| 5-7 years | 20% |
| 8-10 years | 8% |
| 11+ years | 16% |
Comparing The LGBT Ratio of School Bus Drivers with Other Job Titles
After finding the gender ratio, we wondered if the percentages of LGBT persons were different as well. Using the data below, you can see how other job titles compare to school bus drivers.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Operator | 1.73% | 27,441 |
| Delivery Driver, Contractor | 3.95% | 361,045 |
| Motor Pool Driver | 6.17% | 157,092 |
| Transit Coach Operator | 8.69% | 40,390 |
| School Bus Driver | 8.77% | - |
School Bus Driver LGBT Demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Operator | 1.73% | 27,441 |
| Delivery Driver, Contractor | 3.95% | 361,045 |
| Motor Pool Driver | 6.17% | 157,092 |
| Transit Coach Operator | 8.69% | 40,390 |
Foreign Languages Spoken By School Bus Drivers
The most common foreign language among school bus drivers is Spanish at 76.7%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 6.0% and Carrier is the third-most popular at 4.5%.
- Spanish, 76.7%
- French, 6.0%
- Carrier, 4.5%
- Arabic, 2.0%
- German, 1.7%
- Other, 9.1%
School Bus Driver Languages Spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 76.7% |
| French | 6.0% |
| Carrier | 4.5% |
| Arabic | 2.0% |
| German | 1.7% |
| Other | 9.1% |
School Bus Driver Jobs
Recently Added School Bus Driver Jobs
School Bus Driver Heatmaps
Where Do School Bus Drivers Earn The Most?
School bus drivers earn the most in Massachusetts, where the average school bus driver salary is $46,831. The map here shows where school bus drivers earn the highest salaries in the U.S. The darker areas across the 50 states highlight the highest salaries.
Which State Has The Most School Bus Drivers?
By looking through more than 27,741 resumes, we found that the most popular places for school bus drivers are New York, NY and Philadelphia, PA.
Number Of School Bus Driver Jobs By State
Where Are School Bus Drivers In High Demand?
School bus drivers are in high demand in New York, NY. There are currently 16 job openings for school bus drivers here. We looked over job openings to determine where in the country school bus drivers are in the most demand.
School Bus Driver Demographics FAQs
What Percentage Of School Bus Drivers Are Female?
55.5% of school bus drivers are female in the United States. This is 1.1 percentage points higher than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female school bus drivers has decreased by -0.1 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 93,606 female school bus drivers in the U.S. and 75,055 male school bus drivers in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 168,661 people with the specific job title of school bus driver and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.