Bus Drivers, School Salary in Seattle, WA
Bus Drivers, School in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $66,380 a year — 39% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $55,516 take-home, or $4,626 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, school salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,786
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,116
- Medicare (1.45%)$963
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$55,516
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 Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,010 | $27.89 | $48,791 | $4,066 |
| 25th percentile | $62,570 | $30.08 | $52,455 | $4,371 |
| Median (50th) | $66,380 | $31.91 | $55,516 | $4,626 |
| 75th percentile | $74,920 | $36.02 | $61,536 | $5,128 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,720 | $36.88 | $62,803 | $5,234 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $66,380 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus drivers, school's $55,516 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,955 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Bus Drivers, School jobs are less concentrated in Seattle, WA than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bus drivers, school, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #1 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 |
*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 Seattle, WA?
The median bus drivers, school salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $66,380 a year, or about $31.91 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,570 and $74,920.
What is a bus drivers, school’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $66,380 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $55,516 a year ($4,626 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a bus drivers, school?
Pay here is 39% above the national median of $47,920. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,955 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #1 of 30 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus drivers, school afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median bus drivers, school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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