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School bus driver salary
Average school bus driver salary
$37,607
Understanding School Bus Driver Salaries
The average salary for a school bus driver in the United States is approximately $37,607 per year. This figure represents a pivotal aspect for those considering a career in this field. Salary can vary significantly based on factors such as location, experience, and the specific school district.
State-by-State Salary Breakdown
Some states offer higher pay rates than others, reflecting regional demand and cost of living adjustments. For example, states like California and New York consistently rank among the highest-paying for school bus drivers, often exceeding the national average. In contrast, regions with lower costs of living may offer salaries closer to the average.
Opportunities for Advancement
In addition to base salary, factors such as benefits and job stability make school bus driving a rewarding career. Many districts provide opportunities for overtime and additional routes, which can enhance overall earnings. With a growing emphasis on student transportation safety and efficiency, job security in this sector remains strong.
For those interested in pursuing this path, understanding salary trends and opportunities is crucial. Explore job postings on Zippia to find positions that align with your goals.
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Where can a School Bus Driver earn more?
School bus driver salary estimates from across the web
Average school bus driver salary by state
The highest-paying states for school bus drivers are Massachusetts, Washington, and Alaska. The lowest average school bus driver salary states are Oklahoma, Delaware, and Georgia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for school bus drivers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $40,021 | $19.24 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $38,734 | $18.62 |
| 3 | Indiana | $38,300 | $18.41 |
| 4 | Maine | $42,259 | $20.32 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $46,831 | $22.51 |
| 6 | Vermont | $41,456 | $19.93 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $42,017 | $20.20 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $41,064 | $19.74 |
| 9 | Washington | $43,859 | $21.09 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $35,717 | $17.17 |
| 11 | Ohio | $36,426 | $17.51 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $40,214 | $19.33 |
| 13 | Louisiana | $36,926 | $17.75 |
| 14 | Alaska | $43,157 | $20.75 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $37,684 | $18.12 |
| 16 | Iowa | $36,115 | $17.36 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $40,300 | $19.38 |
| 18 | New York | $39,312 | $18.90 |
| 19 | Oregon | $39,467 | $18.97 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $38,509 | $18.51 |
| 21 | Alabama | $35,092 | $16.87 |
| 22 | Texas | $36,602 | $17.60 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $36,058 | $17.34 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $35,912 | $17.27 |
| 25 | Illinois | $35,716 | $17.17 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $39,976 | $19.22 |
| 27 | Maryland | $38,495 | $18.51 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $35,440 | $17.04 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $35,006 | $16.83 |
| 30 | Missouri | $35,763 | $17.19 |
| 31 | Michigan | $35,727 | $17.18 |
| 32 | California | $38,877 | $18.69 |
| 33 | Utah | $35,775 | $17.20 |
| 34 | Kansas | $34,887 | $16.77 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $34,288 | $16.48 |
| 36 | Arizona | $35,892 | $17.26 |
| 37 | Montana | $36,384 | $17.49 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $34,314 | $16.50 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $38,350 | $18.44 |
| 40 | Idaho | $35,384 | $17.01 |
| 41 | Nevada | $35,329 | $16.99 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $33,145 | $15.94 |
| 43 | Virginia | $35,399 | $17.02 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $32,534 | $15.64 |
| 45 | Georgia | $32,699 | $15.72 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $37,050 | $17.81 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $32,693 | $15.72 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $33,243 | $15.98 |
| 49 | Delaware | $32,864 | $15.80 |
| 50 | Colorado | $34,479 | $16.58 |
| 51 | Florida | $31,014 | $14.91 |
Highest paying cities for school bus drivers
The highest-paying cities for school bus drivers are Springfield, MA, Seattle, WA, and Fairbanks, AK.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield, MA | $46,465 | $22.34 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $44,031 | $21.17 |
| 3 | Fairbanks, AK | $43,028 | $20.69 |
| 4 | Manchester, NH | $42,021 | $20.20 |
| 5 | Providence, RI | $41,096 | $19.76 |
| 6 | Manchester, CT | $40,765 | $19.60 |
| 7 | East Orange, NJ | $40,210 | $19.33 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $39,557 | $19.02 |
| 9 | San Jose, CA | $39,274 | $18.88 |
| 10 | Buffalo, NY | $39,237 | $18.86 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $38,793 | $18.65 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $38,574 | $18.55 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $38,465 | $18.49 |
| 14 | Indianapolis, IN | $38,149 | $18.34 |
| 15 | Milwaukee, WI | $37,594 | $18.07 |
| 16 | New Orleans, LA | $36,834 | $17.71 |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $36,698 | $17.64 |
| 18 | Flint, MI | $35,948 | $17.28 |
| 19 | Omaha, NE | $35,939 | $17.28 |
| 20 | Council Bluffs, IA | $35,934 | $17.28 |
School Bus Drivers are the most in-demand in these five cities:
School bus driver salary details
A school bus driver's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $46,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a school bus driver's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| Average | $37,607 | $3,134 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
Highest paying school bus driver jobs
The highest paying types of school bus drivers are bus matron, truck driver, and class b driver.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus Monitor | $26,958 | $2,246 | $12.96 | 11,422 |
| Bus Operator | $37,374 | $3,115 | $17.97 | 65,075 |
| Transportation Driver | $43,236 | $3,603 | $20.79 | 1,006,562 |
| Transit Driver | $36,195 | $3,016 | $17.40 | 362,919 |
| Van Driver | $36,254 | $3,021 | $17.43 | 791,293 |
| Driver | $34,771 | $2,898 | $16.72 | 1,017,998 |
Top companies hiring school bus drivers now:
Which companies pay school bus drivers the most?
School bus driver salaries at Epic Systems and Torah Academy are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average school bus driver salary at companies like Clark County School District and Preston High School are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Epic Systems | $46,585 | $22.40 |
| 2 | Torah Academy | $44,821 | $21.55 |
| 3 | Clark County School District | $43,621 | $20.97 |
| 4 | Preston High School | $43,464 | $20.90 |
| 5 | Forsyth Country Day School | $43,302 | $20.82 |
| 6 | Rudolph Foods | $42,816 | $20.58 |
| 7 | Urban Habitat | $42,538 | $20.45 |
| 8 | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | $42,411 | $20.39 |
| 9 | Madera High School | $42,385 | $20.38 |
| 10 | Austin Achieve Public Schools | $42,172 | $20.27 |
| 11 | Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy | $41,913 | $20.15 |
| 12 | The Overlake School | $41,407 | $19.91 |
| 13 | Los Angeles Unified School District | $41,121 | $19.77 |
| 14 | Torrance Unified School District | $41,095 | $19.76 |
| 15 | Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda Union Free School District | $41,078 | $19.75 |
| 16 | Rancho Alamitos High School | $41,063 | $19.74 |
| 17 | Hamilton Fulton Montgomery BOCES - Practical Nursing Program | $40,898 | $19.66 |
| 18 | Lodi Unified School District | $40,777 | $19.60 |
| 19 | Distinctive Schools | $40,772 | $19.60 |
| 20 | Valparaiso Community Schools | $40,756 | $19.59 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
School bus driver salary trends
The average school bus driver salary has risen by $7,787 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average school bus driver earned $29,820 annually, but today, they earn $37,607 a year. That works out to a 18% change in pay for school bus drivers over the last decade.
Compare school bus driver salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average school bus driver salary over time
Compare school bus driver salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
School bus driver salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,600 | $18.08 | +5.0% |
| 2024 | $35,700 | $17.17 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $34,400 | $16.53 | +4.2% |
| 2022 | $32,900 | $15.84 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | $32,000 | $15.38 | +2.2% |
Recently added school bus driver salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Student | School Bus Driver | Gulfport, MS | 06/30/2025 | $39,862 |
| Gobeacon | School Bus Driver | Milford, NH | 06/30/2025 | $50,088 |
| Gobeacon | School Bus Driver | Baton Rouge, LA | 06/30/2025 | $21,392 |
| Gobeacon | School Bus Driver | Tulsa, OK | 06/30/2025 | $46,958 |
| Gobeacon | School Bus Driver | Las Cruces, NM | 06/30/2025 | $37,566 |
| Gobeacon | School Bus Driver | Burnsville, MN | 06/30/2025 | $56,349 |
| Gobeacon | School Bus Driver | Columbia, MO | 06/30/2025 | $46,958 |
| Gobeacon | School Bus Driver | Newton, MA | 06/30/2025 | $70,958 |
| Gobeacon | School Bus Driver | Bridgeport, CT | 06/30/2025 | $47,584 |
| Gobeacon | School Bus Driver | Davenport, IA | 06/30/2025 | $41,740 |
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