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What is a special needs bus driver and how to become one
Avg. Salary $37,581
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 5%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.19%
Asian 3.00%
Black or African American 6.85%
Hispanic or Latino 13.77%
Unknown 4.83%
White 70.35%
Genderfemale 72.11%
male 27.89%
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
Special needs bus driver career paths
Key steps to become a special needs bus driver
Explore special needs bus driver education requirements
Start to develop specific special needs bus driver skills
Skills Percentages Safety Equipment 39.59% CDL 19.60% Post-Trip Inspections 5.69% DOT 3.46% Tie Downs 3.14% Complete relevant special needs bus driver training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New special needs 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 needs bus driver based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real special needs bus driver resumes.Obtain the necessary licensing
Becoming a licensed special needs bus driver usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed special needs bus driver in most of states. 18 states require special needs bus drivers 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 special needs bus driver duties and responsibilities
- Instruct students with disabilities, including autism, non-verbal, mental retardation, non-walking/restrict to wheelchair and down syndrome.
- Perform vehicle pre-trip inspections and appropriately documents.
- Assist children on bus with ESE problems
Prepare your special needs bus driver resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your special needs 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 needs 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 needs bus driver resume templates
Build a professional special needs 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 needs bus driver resume.
Apply for special needs bus driver jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a special needs bus driver 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 special needs bus driver job
Are you a special needs bus driver?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average special needs bus driver salary
The average special needs bus driver salary in the United States is $37,581 per year or $18 per hour. Special needs bus driver salaries range between $31,000 and $44,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do special needs bus drivers rate their job?
Special needs bus driver 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
