Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Bus Drivers, School Salary in Houston, TX

Bus Drivers, School in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $43,570 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,188 take-home, or $3,099 a month.

Median salary
$43,570
$20.95 per hour
Typical range
$26,550 – $61,280
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Houston, TX
9,730
1.14× national concentration
▲4.4%
Pay trend: The median for bus drivers, school in Houston, TX rose from $41,730 (May 2024) to $43,570 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 2.0%.

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, school salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Bus Drivers, School in Houston, TX
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$37,188
per year · effective tax rate 14.6%
$3,099Monthly
$1,550Twice a month
$1,430Every 2 weeks
$17.88Hourly
  • Federal income tax$3,048
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,701
  • Medicare (1.45%)$632
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$37,188

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →

Bus Drivers, School pay by experience in Houston, TX

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$26,550$12.76$23,474$1,956
25th percentile$31,140$14.97$27,201$2,267
Median (50th)$43,570$20.95$37,188$3,099
75th percentile$49,150$23.63$41,672$3,473
90th percentile (top earners)$61,280$29.46$51,418$4,285

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $43,570 buys in Houston, TX

Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus drivers, school's $37,188 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,705 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,316
42% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,558
50% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$1,783
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Bus Drivers, School jobs are about as common in Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).

Best-paying cities for bus drivers, school, adjusted for cost of living

Houston, TX ranks #27 of 30 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1Seattle, WA $66,380$55,516$49,955
2San Francisco, CA $73,680$57,024$49,323
3Hartford, CT $61,560$49,798$48,467
4Boston, MA $65,170$51,506$47,573
5Providence, RI $59,320$48,236$47,396
6Riverside, CA $61,900$49,348$46,362
7Portland, OR $62,190$47,538$45,093
8Baltimore, MD $57,850$46,278$44,291
27Houston, TX$43,570$37,188$37,705

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 30 metros →

About the job: bus drivers, school

Drive a school bus to transport students. Ensure adherence to safety rules. May assist students in boarding or exiting.

Typical education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
+0.7% (slower than average)

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Bus Drivers, School salaries elsewhere in Texas

Frequently asked questions

How much does a bus drivers, school make in Houston, TX?

The median bus drivers, school salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $43,570 a year, or about $20.95 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,140 and $49,150.

What is a bus drivers, school’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?

On the median $43,570 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $37,188 a year ($3,099 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.

Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a bus drivers, school?

Pay here is 9% below the national median of $47,920. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,705 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #27 of 30 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a bus drivers, school afford rent in Houston, TX?

HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median bus drivers, school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

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