Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Transit bus driver salary
Average transit bus driver salary
$37,247
Average Transit Bus Driver Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Transit Bus Driver in the United States stands at $37,247 annually. This translates to approximately $18 per hour. Salaries for this position can fluctuate significantly depending on various factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry.
Where Can Transit Bus Drivers Earn More?
Transit Bus Drivers in states like California, New York, and Texas often report higher salaries compared to their counterparts in other regions. For instance, cities with robust public transportation systems may offer competitive pay to attract qualified drivers. Additionally, working for larger transit authorities or companies can lead to higher earnings due to increased funding and resources.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience plays a critical role in determining salary. Entry-level positions typically start lower, while drivers with several years on the job can command significantly higher wages. Additionally, specialized roles such as those requiring certifications or operating larger vehicles may also result in elevated pay.
Understanding these variables can provide valuable insights for job seekers considering a career as a Transit Bus Driver. For more information on job openings and salary trends, explore our comprehensive job board.
Let Zippia find your next transit bus driver job
Let Zippia find your next transit bus driver job
Where can a Transit Bus Driver earn more?
Transit bus driver salary estimates from across the web
Average transit bus driver salary by state
The average transit bus driver salary in New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average transit bus driver salary states are Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for transit bus drivers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee | $41,436 | $19.92 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $38,694 | $18.60 |
| 3 | Michigan | $39,945 | $19.20 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $43,200 | $20.77 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $42,478 | $20.42 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $43,694 | $21.01 |
| 7 | Vermont | $40,614 | $19.53 |
| 8 | Nevada | $41,591 | $20.00 |
| 9 | Maine | $40,433 | $19.44 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $37,776 | $18.16 |
| 11 | Montana | $38,928 | $18.72 |
| 12 | Ohio | $36,585 | $17.59 |
| 13 | Idaho | $38,590 | $18.55 |
| 14 | Washington | $41,702 | $20.05 |
| 15 | Indiana | $36,406 | $17.50 |
| 16 | Kansas | $37,255 | $17.91 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $37,672 | $18.11 |
| 18 | Alabama | $36,101 | $17.36 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $38,200 | $18.37 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $38,382 | $18.45 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $40,516 | $19.48 |
| 22 | Illinois | $37,567 | $18.06 |
| 23 | Georgia | $36,576 | $17.58 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $35,880 | $17.25 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $35,766 | $17.20 |
| 26 | Oregon | $38,925 | $18.71 |
| 27 | New York | $40,273 | $19.36 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $35,528 | $17.08 |
| 29 | Maryland | $38,657 | $18.59 |
| 30 | Alaska | $40,853 | $19.64 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $36,083 | $17.35 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $37,302 | $17.93 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $36,518 | $17.56 |
| 34 | Colorado | $38,493 | $18.51 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $41,280 | $19.85 |
| 36 | Utah | $36,658 | $17.62 |
| 37 | California | $39,400 | $18.94 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $39,055 | $18.78 |
| 39 | Delaware | $35,326 | $16.98 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $36,049 | $17.33 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $34,376 | $16.53 |
| 42 | Arizona | $36,563 | $17.58 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $32,576 | $15.66 |
| 44 | Missouri | $34,779 | $16.72 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $33,350 | $16.03 |
| 46 | Iowa | $31,289 | $15.04 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $32,791 | $15.76 |
| 48 | Virginia | $34,104 | $16.40 |
| 49 | Texas | $33,162 | $15.94 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $33,379 | $16.05 |
| 51 | Florida | $32,537 | $15.64 |
Highest paying cities for transit bus drivers
The highest-paying cities for transit bus drivers are Everett, WA, Reno, NV, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Everett, WA | $41,881 | $20.14 |
| 2 | Reno, NV | $41,817 | $20.10 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $40,536 | $19.49 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $40,227 | $19.34 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $39,408 | $18.95 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $38,714 | $18.61 |
| 7 | Longmont, CO | $38,470 | $18.50 |
| 8 | Fargo, ND | $38,336 | $18.43 |
| 9 | Aurora, IL | $37,529 | $18.04 |
| 10 | Saint Paul, MN | $37,273 | $17.92 |
| 11 | Lawrence, KS | $37,250 | $17.91 |
| 12 | Bethel Park, PA | $37,096 | $17.83 |
| 13 | Elyria, OH | $36,855 | $17.72 |
| 14 | Rock Hill, SC | $35,706 | $17.17 |
| 15 | Kansas City, MO | $34,785 | $16.72 |
| 16 | Harrisonburg, VA | $34,107 | $16.40 |
| 17 | El Paso, TX | $33,749 | $16.23 |
| 18 | Tulsa, OK | $33,260 | $15.99 |
| 19 | Tampa, FL | $32,539 | $15.64 |
| 20 | Council Bluffs, IA | $31,211 | $15.01 |
Transit bus driver salary details
A transit bus driver's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $45,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a transit bus driver's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| Average | $37,247 | $3,104 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
Highest paying transit bus driver jobs
The highest paying types of transit bus drivers are truck driver, interstate bus driver, and coach operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus Operator | $37,374 | $3,115 | $17.97 | 65,075 |
| Driver | $34,771 | $2,898 | $16.72 | 1,017,998 |
| Shuttle Driver | $35,367 | $2,947 | $17.00 | 416,879 |
| School Bus Driver | $37,607 | $3,134 | $18.08 | 112,230 |
| Truck Driver | $60,326 | $5,027 | $29.00 | 827,858 |
| Transportation Driver | $43,236 | $3,603 | $20.79 | 1,006,562 |
Top companies hiring transit bus drivers now:
Which companies pay transit bus drivers the most?
Transit bus driver salaries at LAZ Parking and FIRST are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average transit bus driver salary at companies like King County and First Transit are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LAZ Parking | $38,963 | $18.73 |
| 2 | FIRST | $38,710 | $18.61 |
| 3 | King County | $38,392 | $18.46 |
| 4 | First Transit | $38,227 | $18.38 |
| 5 | First Student | $38,132 | $18.33 |
| 6 | Eagle County | $37,946 | $18.24 |
| 7 | Baltimore Metropolitan Council | $37,828 | $18.19 |
| 8 | Three Rivers Community Action Inc | $37,266 | $17.92 |
| 9 | University | $37,198 | $17.88 |
| 10 | Bruce Transportation Group | $36,987 | $17.78 |
| 11 | Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County | $36,497 | $17.55 |
| 12 | MSP | $35,699 | $17.16 |
| 13 | University of South Florida | $34,193 | $16.44 |
| 14 | Prairie View A&M University | $32,640 | $15.69 |
| 15 | The Texas A&M University System | $32,369 | $15.56 |
| 16 | Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | $31,995 | $15.38 |
| 17 | University of Virginia | $31,960 | $15.37 |
| 18 | Texas A&M University-Commerce | $31,688 | $15.23 |
| 19 | My Day Counts | $31,556 | $15.17 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Transit Bus Driver salary by industry
The average transit bus driver salary varies across industries:
- The average transit bus driver salary in the real estate industry is $39,631, the highest of any industry.
- The average transit bus driver salary in the finance industry is $38,322.
- Transit bus drivers in the government industry earn an average salary of $36,995, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for transit bus drivers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Estate | $39,631 | $19.05 |
| 2 | Professional | $38,322 | $18.42 |
| 3 | Transportation | $37,969 | $18.25 |
| 4 | Government | $36,995 | $17.79 |
High paying transit bus driver jobs
Transit bus driver salary trends
The average transit bus driver salary has risen by $8,332 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average transit bus driver earned $28,915 annually, but today, they earn $37,247 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for transit bus drivers over the last decade.
Compare transit bus driver salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average transit bus driver salary over time
Compare transit bus driver salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Transit bus driver salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,200 | $17.91 | +5.0% |
| 2024 | $35,400 | $17.00 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $34,100 | $16.38 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | $33,000 | $15.87 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $32,200 | $15.49 | +3.8% |
Recently added transit bus driver salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Cheyenne | Transit Bus Driver | Cheyenne, WY | 06/26/2025 | $45,977 |
| City of Chayenne, Wy | Transit Bus Driver | Transit, MN | 06/26/2025 | $45,977 |
| Transdevna | Johnson County Transit Bus Driver | Olathe, KS | 06/25/2025 | $53,427 |
| My Ride To Work | Truckee/Tahoe Transit Passenger Bus Driver | Truckee, CA | 06/25/2025 | $56,349 |
| Transdev | Transit Bus Driver | Minneapolis, MN | 06/24/2025 | $54,679 |
| Transdev | Matbus Transit Bus Driver | Fargo, ND | 06/24/2025 | $50,088 |
| Transdev | Lawrence & KU Transit Bus Driver | Lawrence, KS | 06/13/2025 | $43,201 |
| City of Oshkosh | Bus Driver/Transit Operator | Oshkosh, WI | 06/10/2025 | $54,262 |
| Prairie View A&M University | Transit Bus Driver (Transportation Center) | Prairie View, TX | 06/06/2025 | $28,508 |
| State of Virginia | Transit Bus Driver (Staff Wage) | Charlottesville, VA | 06/04/2025 | $48,523 |
Transit bus driver salary FAQs
Search for transit bus driver jobs