Bus Drivers, School Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Bus Drivers, School in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $49,890 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,824 take-home, or $3,402 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, school salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,807
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,093
- Medicare (1.45%)$723
- Indiana income tax$1,442
- Take-home pay$40,824
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Living in Indianapolis (Marion County)? City residents also pay Indianapolis (Marion County)’s County income tax — about $988 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $39,837 ($3,320 a month). Choose “Indianapolis (Marion County)” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Bus Drivers, School pay by experience in Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,430 | $11.75 | $21,037 | $1,753 |
| 25th percentile | $38,690 | $18.60 | $32,156 | $2,680 |
| Median (50th) | $49,890 | $23.99 | $40,824 | $3,402 |
| 75th percentile | $57,470 | $27.63 | $46,691 | $3,891 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,350 | $31.42 | $52,790 | $4,399 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,890 buys in Indianapolis, IN
Prices in Indianapolis, IN are 4.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus drivers, school's $40,824 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,660 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Indianapolis, IN has 1.4× the national concentration of bus drivers, school jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bus drivers, school, adjusted for cost of living
Indianapolis, IN ranks #13 of 30 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $66,380 | $55,516 | $49,955 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $73,680 | $57,024 | $49,323 |
| 3 | Hartford, CT | $61,560 | $49,798 | $48,467 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $65,170 | $51,506 | $47,573 |
| 5 | Providence, RI | $59,320 | $48,236 | $47,396 |
| 6 | Riverside, CA | $61,900 | $49,348 | $46,362 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $62,190 | $47,538 | $45,093 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $57,850 | $46,278 | $44,291 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $49,890 | $40,824 | $42,660 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus drivers, school make in Indianapolis, IN?
The median bus drivers, school salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $49,890 a year, or about $23.99 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,690 and $57,470.
What is a bus drivers, school’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $49,890 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $40,824 a year ($3,402 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,442 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a bus drivers, school?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $47,920. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,660 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #13 of 30 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus drivers, school afford rent in Indianapolis, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Indianapolis, IN is $1,242 a month ($1,454 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median bus drivers, school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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