Bus drivers, school salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,240 | $14.06 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| Mean (average) | $48,430 | $23.28 |
| 90th percentile | $65,730 | $31.60 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Bus drivers, school pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $17,630 | $16,560 | $21,580 | 10,410 | 1.9 |
| Alaska | $54,200 | $36,470 | $59,910 | 790 | 0.93 |
| Arizona | $46,050 | $37,370 | $52,870 | 5,020 | 0.6 |
| Arkansas | $45,500 | $24,080 | $63,300 | 4,340 | 1.28 |
| California | $61,040 | $45,870 | $73,680 | 16,600 | 0.35 |
| Colorado | $52,620 | $40,640 | $70,540 | 3,840 | 0.52 |
| Connecticut | $61,520 | $45,830 | $65,090 | 7,970 | 1.81 |
| Delaware | $42,390 | $36,380 | $60,910 | 1,350 | 1.08 |
| District of Columbia | $55,450 | $51,850 | $55,480 | 510 | 0.28 |
| Florida | $44,690 | $35,510 | $54,840 | 13,470 | 0.52 |
| Georgia | $44,950 | $20,740 | $62,060 | 16,880 | 1.33 |
| Guam | $41,720 | $32,360 | $45,180 | 110 | 0.62 |
| Hawaii | $59,090 | $45,760 | $73,970 | 630 | 0.39 |
| Idaho | $46,250 | $36,380 | $56,410 | 2,960 | 1.33 |
| Illinois | $49,090 | $38,310 | $62,560 | 21,230 | 1.34 |
| Indiana | $48,020 | $22,900 | $65,240 | 11,780 | 1.42 |
| Iowa | $46,320 | $28,440 | $63,200 | 4,840 | 1.2 |
| Kansas | $45,860 | $33,570 | $55,810 | 4,830 | 1.3 |
| Kentucky | $44,830 | $36,760 | $63,470 | 6,820 | 1.31 |
| Louisiana | $29,450 | $21,000 | $50,750 | 6,670 | 1.33 |
| Maine | $48,640 | $39,050 | $58,590 | 1,670 | 1 |
| Maryland | $56,450 | $38,280 | $63,950 | 9,020 | 1.26 |
| Massachusetts | $65,170 | $44,530 | $71,980 | 9,330 | 0.99 |
| Michigan | $46,380 | $37,860 | $54,500 | 8,780 | 0.77 |
| Minnesota | $48,940 | $36,580 | $62,170 | 13,110 | 1.72 |
| Mississippi | $30,640 | $18,680 | $47,300 | 3,790 | 1.26 |
| Missouri | $46,880 | $33,980 | $58,730 | 8,970 | 1.18 |
| Montana | $46,220 | $36,120 | $57,870 | 1,630 | 1.23 |
| Nebraska | $47,760 | $36,800 | $58,340 | 2,330 | 0.88 |
| Nevada | $37,280 | $37,280 | $50,310 | 2,590 | 0.65 |
| New Hampshire | $50,990 | $36,030 | $60,650 | 2,040 | 1.15 |
| New Jersey | $59,430 | $46,640 | $71,520 | 13,670 | 1.23 |
| New Mexico | $45,470 | $31,020 | $65,140 | 1,870 | 0.83 |
| New York | $56,640 | $46,270 | $76,070 | 38,320 | 1.53 |
| North Carolina | $37,460 | $32,270 | $46,960 | 12,390 | 0.97 |
| North Dakota | $50,790 | $43,780 | $81,220 | 1,530 | 1.38 |
| Ohio | $45,860 | $30,100 | $60,070 | 5,540 | 0.39 |
| Oklahoma | $36,920 | $20,850 | $48,110 | 3,710 | 0.84 |
| Oregon | $51,270 | $45,830 | $67,260 | 5,210 | 1.02 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,530 | $34,950 | $60,660 | 23,670 | 1.51 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,950 | $22,130 | $52,280 | 1,280 | 0.52 |
| Rhode Island | $58,700 | $47,780 | $67,180 | 1,800 | 1.38 |
| South Carolina | $39,900 | $23,640 | $57,150 | 5,900 | 0.99 |
| South Dakota | $39,730 | $33,480 | $50,530 | 1,290 | 1.09 |
| Tennessee | $44,510 | $22,900 | $61,600 | 7,050 | 0.83 |
| Texas | $44,490 | $23,690 | $60,740 | 37,550 | 1.03 |
| Utah | $52,890 | $37,010 | $69,110 | 1,920 | 0.43 |
| Vermont | $56,580 | $39,840 | $61,970 | 860 | 1.09 |
| Virgin Islands | $40,120 | $35,730 | $63,660 | 50 | 0.56 |
| Virginia | $50,190 | $38,830 | $67,060 | 12,930 | 1.21 |
| Washington | $63,370 | $49,670 | $75,530 | 9,660 | 1.05 |
| West Virginia | $33,360 | $29,610 | $36,670 | 4,690 | 2.58 |
| Wisconsin | $47,760 | $38,930 | $62,780 | 7,840 | 1.03 |
| Wyoming | $45,520 | $38,830 | $56,130 | 1,360 | 1.87 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for bus drivers, school
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 56,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.1%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for bus drivers, school
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Comply with traffic regulations to operate vehicles in a safe and courteous manner.
- Follow safety rules as students board and exit buses or cross streets near bus stops.
- Check the condition of a vehicle's tires, brakes, windshield wipers, lights, oil, fuel, water, and safety equipment to ensure that everything is in working order.
- Report any bus malfunctions or needed repairs.
- Pick up and drop off students at regularly scheduled neighborhood locations, following strict time schedules.
- Escort small children across roads and highways.
- Drive gasoline, diesel, or electrically powered multi-passenger vehicles to transport students between neighborhoods, schools, and school activities.
- Maintain order among students during trips to ensure safety.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- AOL MapQuest
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Operations Monitoring, Coordination, Service Orientation, Operation and Control, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Bus Drive Coordinator, Bus Driver Route Coordinator, CDL Bus Driver (Commercial Driver's License Bus Driver), Public School Bus Driver, School Bus Driver, School Van Driver, Shuttle Bus Driver, SPED Bus Driver (Special Education Bus Driver), SPED School Bus Driver (Special Education School Bus Driver), Student Driver.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do bus drivers, school make?
The national median annual wage for bus drivers, school was $47,920 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $29,240 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $65,730. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do bus drivers, school need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is bus drivers, school a growing career?
BLS projects employment of bus drivers, school to change +0.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 56,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay bus drivers, school the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Massachusetts ($65,170), Washington ($63,370), Connecticut ($61,520). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.