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What is a special education bus driver and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
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There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a special education bus driver. For example, did you know that they make an average of $18.13 an hour? That's $37,713 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 32,800 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreSpecial Education Bus DriverUS Average
Salary
2.9

Avg. Salary $37,713

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.2

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.06%

Asian 2.63%

Black or African American 6.67%

Hispanic or Latino 13.59%

Unknown 4.64%

White 71.42%

Gender

female 76.77%

male 23.23%

Age - 59
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 59
Stress level
8.2

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.9

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
10.0

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Special education bus driver career paths

Key steps to become a special education bus driver

  1. Explore special education bus driver education requirements

    Most common special education bus driver degrees

    Bachelor's

    34.9 %

    Associate

    23.3 %

    High School Diploma

    19.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific special education bus driver skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Autism20.56%
    CDL20.31%
    Mechanical Problems15.77%
    Inspection Reports11.87%
    First-Aid Procedures5.96%
  3. Complete relevant special education bus driver training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New special education bus drivers 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 special education bus driver based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real special education bus driver resumes.
  4. Obtain the necessary licensing

    Becoming a licensed special education bus driver usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed special education bus driver in most of states. 18 states require special education bus drivers to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.
    StateEducationExamLicense url
    KentuckySpecific course requiredState exam requiredSchool Bus Driver
    MarylandSpecific course requiredState exam requiredBUS DRIVER, SCHOOL
    AlaskaSpecific course requiredState exam requiredBus Driver, School
    Idaho-State exam requiredCommercial Drivers
    IllinoisSpecific course requiredState exam requiredCOMMERCIAL DRIVER (TRUCK AND BUS OPERATOR)
  5. Research special education bus driver duties and responsibilities

    • Implement provisions for IEP's and maintain confidentiality.
    • Perform vehicle pre-trip inspections and appropriately documents.
    • Train and supervise bus assistants on proper procedures for handling disable children in walkers and wheel chairs.
  6. Prepare your special education bus driver resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your special education bus driver 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 special education bus driver resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable special education bus driver resume templates

    Build a professional special education bus driver 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 special education bus driver resume.
    Special Education Bus Driver Resume
    Special Education Bus Driver Resume
    Special Education Bus Driver Resume
    Special Education Bus Driver Resume
    Special Education Bus Driver Resume
    Special Education Bus Driver Resume
    Special Education Bus Driver Resume
    Special Education Bus Driver Resume
    Special Education Bus Driver Resume
  7. Apply for special education bus driver jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a special education bus driver job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first special education bus driver job

Zippi

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Average special education bus driver salary

The average special education bus driver salary in the United States is $37,713 per year or $18 per hour. Special education bus driver salaries range between $31,000 and $45,000 per year.

Average special education bus driver salary
$37,713 Yearly
$18.13 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do special education bus drivers rate their job?

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Special education bus driver reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2023
Pros

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)

Cons

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


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023
Pros

Severing the public , being able to get people to and from work and home is a good day work as a bus driver.

Cons

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


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2022
Pros

The freedom to work on your own schedule.

Cons

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.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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