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Transit driver salary
Average transit driver salary
$36,195
Understanding Transit Driver Salaries
The average transit driver salary in the United States stands at $36,195 per year or approximately $17 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on factors such as experience, location, and the specific employer. For instance, transit drivers in urban areas typically earn more due to higher living costs and demand for public transport services.
Salary Variations by State
In states like California and New York, transit drivers can expect some of the highest wages, often exceeding $50,000 annually. Understanding these regional differences is crucial for job seekers aiming to maximize their earning potential. For those interested in pursuing a career as a transit driver, researching local job boards and applying to various transit authorities can provide valuable insight into salary expectations.
Career Opportunities and Growth
As a transit driver, there are opportunities for advancement, particularly with experience and additional certifications. Positions such as transit supervisor or dispatcher offer pathways to higher earnings and career growth. Additionally, specialized roles in emergency response or charter services may provide competitive pay and benefits.
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Where can a Transit Driver earn more?
Transit driver salary estimates from across the web
Average transit driver salary by state
The highest-paying states for transit drivers are New Jersey, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. The lowest average transit driver salary states are Wyoming, New Mexico, and Kentucky.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for transit drivers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $37,566 | $18.06 |
| 2 | Tennessee | $39,488 | $18.98 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $42,595 | $20.48 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $43,574 | $20.95 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $37,912 | $18.23 |
| 6 | Michigan | $39,110 | $18.80 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $44,742 | $21.51 |
| 8 | Vermont | $39,462 | $18.97 |
| 9 | Nevada | $40,484 | $19.46 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $39,329 | $18.91 |
| 11 | Kansas | $35,964 | $17.29 |
| 12 | Maine | $38,997 | $18.75 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $37,118 | $17.85 |
| 14 | Indiana | $35,098 | $16.87 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $36,704 | $17.65 |
| 16 | Illinois | $36,134 | $17.37 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $35,392 | $17.02 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $40,554 | $19.50 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $35,734 | $17.18 |
| 20 | New York | $41,253 | $19.83 |
| 21 | Alabama | $34,292 | $16.49 |
| 22 | Montana | $37,539 | $18.05 |
| 23 | Maryland | $38,311 | $18.42 |
| 24 | Iowa | $34,634 | $16.65 |
| 25 | Idaho | $37,447 | $18.00 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $34,271 | $16.48 |
| 27 | Georgia | $35,053 | $16.85 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $33,963 | $16.33 |
| 29 | Texas | $36,129 | $17.37 |
| 30 | Oregon | $38,442 | $18.48 |
| 31 | Alaska | $41,096 | $19.76 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $37,027 | $17.80 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $33,845 | $16.27 |
| 34 | Delaware | $35,549 | $17.09 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $34,410 | $16.54 |
| 36 | District of Columbia | $38,569 | $18.54 |
| 37 | Utah | $35,269 | $16.96 |
| 38 | Virginia | $34,902 | $16.78 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $33,625 | $16.17 |
| 40 | Missouri | $32,966 | $15.85 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $31,345 | $15.07 |
| 42 | California | $36,469 | $17.53 |
| 43 | Ohio | $30,655 | $14.74 |
| 44 | Arizona | $34,891 | $16.77 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $38,474 | $18.50 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $31,335 | $15.06 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $31,460 | $15.13 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $31,454 | $15.12 |
| 49 | Washington | $32,646 | $15.70 |
| 50 | Colorado | $31,757 | $15.27 |
| 51 | Florida | $28,137 | $13.53 |
Highest paying cities for transit drivers
The highest-paying cities for transit drivers are West Haven, CT, Reno, NV, and Franklin Town, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Haven, CT | $43,673 | $21.00 |
| 2 | Reno, NV | $41,092 | $19.76 |
| 3 | Franklin Town, MA | $40,736 | $19.58 |
| 4 | Bismarck, ND | $38,821 | $18.66 |
| 5 | McMinnville, OR | $38,496 | $18.51 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $38,205 | $18.37 |
| 7 | Santa Rosa, CA | $37,368 | $17.97 |
| 8 | Blaine, MN | $37,156 | $17.86 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $36,200 | $17.40 |
| 10 | Pflugerville, TX | $36,157 | $17.38 |
| 11 | Springfield, VA | $35,466 | $17.05 |
| 12 | Tucson, AZ | $34,813 | $16.74 |
| 13 | Ames, IA | $34,682 | $16.67 |
| 14 | Jackson, MS | $33,952 | $16.32 |
| 15 | Durham, NC | $33,811 | $16.26 |
| 16 | Las Cruces, NM | $31,804 | $15.29 |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $31,755 | $15.27 |
| 18 | Tulsa, OK | $31,358 | $15.08 |
| 19 | Bowling Green, KY | $31,140 | $14.97 |
| 20 | Sandusky, OH | $30,956 | $14.88 |
Transit driver salary details
A transit driver's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $47,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a transit driver's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| 75th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| Average | $36,195 | $3,016 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying transit driver jobs
The highest paying types of transit drivers are company driver, truck driver, and coach operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus Operator | $37,374 | $3,115 | $17.97 | 65,075 |
| Shuttle Driver | $35,367 | $2,947 | $17.00 | 416,879 |
| Driver | $34,771 | $2,898 | $16.72 | 1,017,998 |
| Company Driver | $65,430 | $5,453 | $31.46 | 708,157 |
| Bus Driver | $36,879 | $3,073 | $17.73 | 359,229 |
| Contract Driver | $34,999 | $2,917 | $16.83 | 1,007,663 |
Top companies hiring transit drivers now:
Which companies pay transit drivers the most?
Transit driver salaries at Keurig Dr Pepper and WeatherTech are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average transit driver salary at companies like Lincoln Holdings LLC and Gordon Food Service are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keurig Dr Pepper | $41,270 | $19.84 |
| 2 | WeatherTech | $40,556 | $19.50 |
| 3 | Lincoln Holdings LLC | $40,154 | $19.30 |
| 4 | Gordon Food Service | $38,310 | $18.42 |
| 5 | National Express | $38,163 | $18.35 |
| 6 | City of Greenville, NC | $38,096 | $18.32 |
| 7 | Bridgewater State University | $38,011 | $18.27 |
| 8 | Green Mountain Coffee Roasters | $37,880 | $18.21 |
| 9 | FIRST | $37,696 | $18.12 |
| 10 | National Express Transit | $37,676 | $18.11 |
| 11 | First Transit | $37,640 | $18.10 |
| 12 | Transdev Services, Inc. | $37,631 | $18.09 |
| 13 | Keystone Quality Transport | $37,491 | $18.02 |
| 14 | MV Transportation | $36,765 | $17.68 |
| 15 | LAZ Parking | $36,743 | $17.66 |
| 16 | Hire Velocity | $36,292 | $17.45 |
| 17 | Bruce Transportation Group | $36,214 | $17.41 |
| 18 | Polk County | $36,151 | $17.38 |
| 19 | Medical Billing | $36,037 | $17.33 |
| 20 | City of Rapid City | $35,890 | $17.25 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Transit driver salary trends
The average transit driver salary has risen by $8,096 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average transit driver earned $28,099 annually, but today, they earn $36,195 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for transit drivers over the last decade.
Compare transit driver salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average transit driver salary over time
Compare transit driver salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Transit driver salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,200 | $17.40 | +5.0% |
| 2024 | $34,400 | $16.52 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $33,100 | $15.91 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | $32,100 | $15.42 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $31,300 | $15.05 | +3.8% |
Recently added transit driver salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon Food Service | Transit Driver | Londonderry, NH | 06/27/2025 | $87,654 |
| Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa | Transit Driver | Nore, MN | 06/27/2025 | $39,194 |
| City of Ames, Ia | Transit Driver | Ames, IA | 06/25/2025 | $46,269 |
| Easton Coach Company LLC | Transit Driver | Reading, PA | 06/23/2025 | $31,305 |
| City of Fremont, Ne | Public Transit Driver | Fremont, NE | 06/11/2025 | $40,154 |
| Mv Transportation | Fixed Route Transit Driver | Cary, NC | 06/11/2025 | $44,871 |
| City of Joplin, Mo | Transit Driver II/III | Joplin, MO | 06/11/2025 | $33,779 |
| Paratransit Services | Local Transit Driver | Truckee, CA | 06/10/2025 | $41,740 |
| Mv Transportation | Driver-Brand New Microtransit Service | Decatur, IL | 06/10/2025 | $41,531 |
| Transdevna | Weride Microtransit Driver/Operator-(Resume Required) | Goodyear, AZ | 06/05/2025 | $41,740 |
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