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What is a transit bus operator 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 transit bus operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $18.15 an hour? That's $37,749 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 32,800 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreTransit Bus OperatorUS Average
Salary
2.9

Avg. Salary $37,749

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
8.0

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.15%

Asian 4.90%

Black or African American 25.13%

Hispanic or Latino 17.04%

Unknown 4.12%

White 47.66%

Gender

female 29.74%

male 70.26%

Age - 56
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 - 56
Stress Level
8.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
6.8

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
5.6

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Transit Bus Operator career paths

Key steps to become a transit bus operator

  1. Explore transit bus operator education requirements

    Most common transit bus operator degrees

    High School Diploma

    35.1 %

    Associate

    24.5 %

    Bachelor's

    22.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific transit bus operator skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Transport Passengers23.06%
    CDL14.14%
    Post-Trip Inspections7.48%
    Safety Rules6.57%
    Customer Service5.45%
  3. Complete relevant transit bus operator training and internships

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

    Becoming a licensed transit bus operator usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed transit bus operator in most of states. 18 states require transit bus operators 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 transit bus operator duties and responsibilities

    • Maintain professionalism and upkeep cleanliness of assign bus.
    • Obtain information about children health history and allergies
  6. Prepare your transit bus operator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your transit 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 transit 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 Transit Bus Operator Resume templates

    Build a professional Transit 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 Transit Bus Operator resume.
    Transit Bus Operator Resume
    Transit Bus Operator Resume
    Transit Bus Operator Resume
    Transit Bus Operator Resume
    Transit Bus Operator Resume
    Transit Bus Operator Resume
    Transit Bus Operator Resume
    Transit Bus Operator Resume
    Transit Bus Operator Resume
  7. Apply for transit bus operator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a transit bus operator 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 Transit Bus Operator Job

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Average transit bus operator salary

The average Transit Bus Operator salary in the United States is $37,749 per year or $18 per hour. Transit bus operator salaries range between $32,000 and $44,000 per year.

Average Transit Bus Operator Salary
$37,749 Yearly
$18.15 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do transit bus operators rate their job?

-/5

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Transit Bus Operator reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Pros

Meeting new people, seeing new places, and the pay when you work for private transportation

Cons

traffic in the bay area


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019
Cons

Rude, disrespectful individuals who do not respect the driver and driver's aide ,not following the rules of ridership and respect for others.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019
Pros

Spit shift, working with children, off in the summer

Cons

Poor salaries, threat of job lose when contract expires, lack of respect for drivers


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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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