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What is a school bus operator and how to become one
Avg. Salary $37,170
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 5%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.00%
Asian 2.46%
Black or African American 10.80%
Hispanic or Latino 17.49%
Unknown 4.54%
White 63.72%
Genderfemale 46.01%
male 53.99%
Age - 59American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 59Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
School bus operator career paths
Key steps to become a school bus operator
Explore school bus operator education requirements
Start to develop specific school bus operator skills
Skills Percentages Safety Rules 19.43% CDL 15.47% DOT 7.87% Safety Procedures 6.86% DMV 5.53% Complete relevant school bus operator training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New school bus operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a school bus operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real school bus operator resumes.Obtain the necessary licensing
Becoming a licensed school bus operator usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed school bus operator in most of states. 18 states require school bus operators to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.State Education Exam License url Kentucky Specific course required State exam required School Bus Driver Maryland Specific course required State exam required BUS DRIVER, SCHOOL Alaska Specific course required State exam required Bus Driver, School Idaho - State exam required Commercial Drivers Illinois Specific course required State exam required COMMERCIAL DRIVER (TRUCK AND BUS OPERATOR) Research school bus operator duties and responsibilities
- Comply with all regulations and take CPR training every year.
- Assist with in bus training and preparing new recruits for CDL testing.
- Follow all process and procedures require to maintain valid CDL and drivers license.
- Attend operator, maintenance and safety classes for bus operators which include first aid and CPR.
Prepare your school bus operator resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your school bus operator resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a school bus operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable school bus operator resume templates
Build a professional school bus operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your school bus operator resume.
Apply for school bus operator jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a school bus operator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first school bus operator job
Are you a school bus operator?
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Average school bus operator salary
The average school bus operator salary in the United States is $37,170 per year or $18 per hour. School bus operator salaries range between $30,000 and $44,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do school bus operators rate their job?
School bus operator reviews
You don’t have a supervisor hovering over your shoulders all day. It’s great not to be stuck in an office all day too. Sometimes you really do form a good relationship with some of the students and parents (special needs)
Unruly and disrespectful children sometimes with dangerous behavior. You may not always be supported by your supervisor, parents or school staff. Hours can be very conflicting with your doctor’s or other appointments
Severing the public , being able to get people to and from work and home is a good day work as a bus driver.
Not enough overtime , the hours are not enough, and since their are meaningful, being able to sign up for overtime helps . Then there are the class C drivers who take advantage of bus drivers, by cutting us off, or just not being aware that a 40ft/ 60ft bus can not stop on a dime And while class C drivers take unnecessary traffic risk. A bus driver must stay alert and expect the unexpected every minute under the wheel of a bus
The freedom to work on your own schedule.
The road rage drivers: people lose their empathy when driving. They become aggressive and angry by the slightest event on the road. Hence, taking the fun out of driving. However, driving is still relaxing and fun.
Updated January 8, 2025
