Bus Drivers, School Salary in St. Louis, MO
Bus Drivers, School in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $48,100 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,505 take-home, or $3,292 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, school salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,592
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,982
- Medicare (1.45%)$697
- Missouri income tax$1,323
- Take-home pay$39,505
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $481 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $39,024 ($3,252 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Bus Drivers, School pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,060 | $18.78 | $32,666 | $2,722 |
| 25th percentile | $46,680 | $22.44 | $38,431 | $3,203 |
| Median (50th) | $48,100 | $23.13 | $39,505 | $3,292 |
| 75th percentile | $55,970 | $26.91 | $45,459 | $3,788 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,620 | $28.18 | $47,463 | $3,955 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,100 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus drivers, school's $39,505 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,546 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
St. Louis, MO has 1.3× 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
St. Louis, MO ranks #16 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 |
| 16 | St. Louis, MO | $48,100 | $39,505 | $41,546 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $48,110
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus drivers, school make in St. Louis, MO?
The median bus drivers, school salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $48,100 a year, or about $23.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,680 and $55,970.
What is a bus drivers, school’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $48,100 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $39,505 a year ($3,292 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,323 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a bus drivers, school?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $47,920. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,546 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #16 of 30 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus drivers, school afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 30% of a median bus drivers, school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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