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What is a transit driver and how to become one
A transit driver operates public transportation vehicles such as buses, trains, and subways. They transport passengers while adhering to schedules and following traffic rules. Transit drivers have excellent driving skills, knowledge of local routes, and customer service skills. They also perform vehicle maintenance checks and ensure the safety of passengers. A transit driver's job requires considerable attention to detail, good communication skills, and the ability to work independently while following established protocols.
Avg. Salary $36,195
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 5%
Growth rate 0.3%
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%
Genderfemale 40.71%
male 59.29%
Age - 56American 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 - 56Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a transit driver?
Pros
Opportunity for overtime pay
Union representation
No need for prior experience or higher education
Opportunity for advancement within the company
Regular breaks throughout the workday
Cons
Long and irregular hours
Physically demanding job
Risk of accidents on the road
Dealing with difficult passengers or coworkers
Sitting for extended periods can lead to health problems
Transit driver career paths
Key steps to become a transit driver
Explore transit driver education requirements
Start to develop specific transit driver skills
Skills Percentages Reliable Transportation 20.25% CDL 14.87% Defensive Driving 12.32% Passenger Endorsement 5.33% Safety Standards 5.11% Complete relevant transit driver training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New transit 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 transit driver based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real transit driver resumes.Obtain the necessary licensing
Becoming a licensed transit driver usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed transit driver in most of states. 18 states require transit 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 transit driver duties and responsibilities
- Accomplish CDL license with endorsement in doubles/triples.
- Obtain full first aid and CPR training.
- Well verse with first aid and CPR techniques.
- Train new drivers on routes and for require testing for CDL.
Prepare your transit driver resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your transit 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 transit 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 transit driver resume templates
Build a professional transit 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 transit driver resume.
Apply for transit driver jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a transit 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 transit driver job
Are you a transit driver?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average transit driver salary
The average transit driver salary in the United States is $36,195 per year or $17 per hour. Transit driver salaries range between $27,000 and $47,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do transit drivers rate their job?
Transit driver reviews
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.
I like the split schedule and having holidays, snow days and summers (if you want them). I like my supervisors and my co-workers. I drive a special needs run which I really enjoy and get a lot of satisfaction from and we receive good benefits and retirement.
It’s hard to get up so early! When I had a regular run I believed that those routes should have attendants to help control the students-instead of just special needs routes having them.
Updated January 8, 2025
