Transit bus driver demographics and statistics in the US
Transit bus driver demographics research summary. Zippia estimates transit bus driver demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our transit bus driver estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about transit bus drivers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 113,073 transit bus drivers currently employed in the United States.
- 35.6% of all transit bus drivers are women, while 64.4% are men.
- The average transit bus driver age is 54 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of transit bus drivers is White (47.7%), followed by Black or African American (25.1%), Hispanic or Latino (17.0%) and Asian (4.9%).
- Transit bus drivers are most in-demand in Breckenridge, CO.
- The real estate industry is the highest-paying for transit bus drivers.
- Everett, WA pays an annual average wage of $41,881, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women transit bus drivers earned 96% of what men earned.
- 9% of all transit bus drivers are LGBT.
- Tennessee is the best state for transit bus drivers to live.
- Transit bus drivers are 55% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to government companies.
On this page
Transit bus driver demographics by:
Transit bus driver gender statistics
35.6% of transit bus drivers are women and 64.4% of transit bus drivers are men.
- Male, 64.4%
- Female, 35.6%
Transit bus driver gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 64.4% |
| Female | 35.6% |
Transit bus driver gender pay gap
Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$38,186
Female income
$36,653
Transit bus driver gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in transit bus driver positions over time. Currently, 35.6% of transit bus drivers are female.
Transit bus driver gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 46.79% | 53.21% |
| 2011 | 47.31% | 52.69% |
| 2012 | 46.15% | 53.85% |
| 2013 | 48.53% | 51.47% |
| 2014 | 47.42% | 52.58% |
| 2015 | 49.42% | 50.58% |
| 2016 | 49.97% | 50.03% |
| 2017 | 49.40% | 50.60% |
| 2018 | 59.33% | 40.67% |
| 2019 | 63.58% | 36.42% |
| 2020 | 66.66% | 33.34% |
| 2021 | 64.36% | 35.64% |
Transit bus driver related jobs gender ratio
We compared transit bus drivers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, diesel truck driver and tank wagon driver have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Matron | 11% | 89% |
| Bus Escort | 18% | 82% |
| Bus Monitor | 19% | 81% |
| Transit Bus Driver | 64% | 36% |
| Wrecker Operator | 99% | 1% |
| Tank Wagon Driver | 99% | 1% |
| Diesel Truck Driver | 100% | 0% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Transit bus driver demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among transit bus drivers is White, which makes up 47.7% of all transit bus drivers. Comparatively, 25.1% of transit bus drivers are Black or African American and 17.0% of transit bus drivers are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 47.7%
- Black or African American, 25.1%
- Hispanic or Latino, 17.0%
- Asian, 4.9%
- Unknown, 4.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
Transit bus driver race
| Transit bus driver race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 47.7% |
| Black or African American | 25.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 17.0% |
| Asian | 4.9% |
| Unknown | 4.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.2% |
Transit bus driver race and ethnicity over time
See how transit bus driver racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Transit bus driver race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 65.92% | 21.39% | 1.42% | 9.10% |
| 2011 | 64.45% | 21.50% | 2.10% | 9.41% |
| 2012 | 65.27% | 20.63% | 1.99% | 9.47% |
| 2013 | 64.44% | 20.96% | 1.94% | 10.11% |
| 2014 | 65.30% | 20.79% | 1.69% | 9.86% |
| 2015 | 64.99% | 20.58% | 2.14% | 9.94% |
| 2016 | 62.65% | 21.23% | 2.51% | 10.79% |
| 2017 | 64.29% | 20.00% | 2.11% | 10.80% |
| 2018 | 54.60% | 24.49% | 4.16% | 13.88% |
| 2019 | 53.04% | 26.57% | 3.97% | 13.79% |
| 2020 | 48.63% | 26.35% | 4.07% | 15.46% |
| 2021 | 47.66% | 25.13% | 4.90% | 17.04% |
Transit bus driver wage gap by race
According to our data, asian transit bus drivers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White transit bus drivers have the lowest average salary at $36,891.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $38,321 |
| White | $36,891 |
| Black or African American | $38,451 |
| Asian | $39,204 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $38,100 |
Average transit bus driver age
See how the average age of transit bus drivers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Transit bus driver age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 56 | 56 |
| White | 60 | 56.5 |
| Black or African American | 54 | 49.5 |
| Asian | 55 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 55 | 51 |
Transit bus driver age breakdown
The average age of transit bus drivers is 40+ years years old, representing 91% of the transit bus driver population.
Transit bus driver age breakdown
| Transit Bus Driver Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 91% |
| 30-40 years | 9% |
| 20-30 years | 0% |
Transit bus driver educational attainment
The most common degree for transit bus drivers is high school diploma, with 35% of transit bus drivers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 27% and bachelor's degree degree at 22%.
- High School Diploma, 35%
- Bachelor's, 27%
- Associate, 22%
- Diploma, 11%
- Other Degrees, 5%
Transit bus drivers by degree level
| Transit bus driver degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 35% |
| Bachelor's | 27% |
| Associate | 22% |
| Diploma | 11% |
| Other Degrees | 5% |
Transit bus driver jobs you might like
Transit bus driver wage gap by degree level
According to the data, transit bus drivers with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $38,872 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, transit bus drivers earn a median annual income of $38,848 compared to $38,099 for transit bus drivers with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $38,099 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $38,848 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $38,872 |
Transit bus driver employment statistics
Most transit bus drivers work for a private in the transportation industry.
Company size where transit bus drivers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where transit bus drivers work.
Transit bus driver jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 11% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 16% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 27% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 13% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 23% |
| > 10,000 employees | 11% |
Transit bus driver jobs by company type
Employees with the transit bus driver job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most transit bus drivers prefer to work at private companies over government companies.
Transit bus driver jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 14% |
| Public | 5% |
| Private | 55% |
| Government | 26% |
Transit bus driver jobs by industry
The most common industries for transit bus drivers are transportation, government and education.
Transit bus driver industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Transportation | 25% |
| Government | 19% |
| Education | 14% |
| Health Care | 5% |
| Hospitality | 5% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
| Professional | 4% |
| Media | 3% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Fortune 500 | 3% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
Transit bus driver turnover and employment statistics
Transit bus driver unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for transit bus drivers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Transit bus driver unemployment rate by year
| Year | Transit 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 | 2.79% |
| 2019 | 3.31% |
| 2020 | 7.02% |
| 2021 | 7.23% |
Average transit bus driver tenure
The average transit bus driver stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 716 transit bus drivers resumes in Zippia's database.
Transit bus driver tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 21% |
| 1-2 years | 32% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 16% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 10% |
Transit bus driver LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of transit bus drivers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Gate Driver | 1.73% | 6,045 |
| Commercial Driver | 3.95% | 1,016,123 |
| Car Driver | 6.17% | 165,325 |
| Transit Bus Driver | 8.69% | - |
| Bus Aide | 8.77% | 47,159 |
Similar transit bus driver jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Gate Driver | 1.73% | 6,045 |
| Commercial Driver | 3.95% | 1,016,123 |
| Car Driver | 6.17% | 165,325 |
| Bus Aide | 8.77% | 47,159 |
Foreign languages spoken by transit bus drivers
The most common foreign language among transit bus drivers is Spanish at 57.1%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Chinese at 7.1% and Japanese is the third-most popular at 7.1%.
- Spanish, 57.1%
- Chinese, 7.1%
- Japanese, 7.1%
- French, 7.1%
- Dakota, 7.1%
- Other, 14.5%
Transit bus driver languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 57.1% |
| Chinese | 7.1% |
| Japanese | 7.1% |
| French | 7.1% |
| Dakota | 7.1% |
| Other | 14.5% |
