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

Bus Drivers, School Salary

Bus Drivers, School earn a median $47,920 a year nationally. Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

U.S. median
$47,920
$23.04 per hour
Range
$29,240 – $65,730
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
402,930
across the U.S.
▲1.9%
Pay trend: The median for bus drivers, school in the U.S. rose from $47,040 (May 2024) to $47,920 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 0.5%.

What bus drivers, school do

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)
Openings per year
56,500

Employment of bus drivers, school is projected to grow 0.7% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 56,500 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

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

Bus Drivers, School take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Bus Drivers, School
Deductions, kids & local tax

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

Your take-home pay
$40,684
per year · effective tax rate 15.1%
$3,390Monthly
$1,695Twice a month
$1,565Every 2 weeks
$19.56Hourly
  • Federal income tax$3,570
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,971
  • Medicare (1.45%)$695
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$40,684

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$29,240$14.06$25,674
25th percentile$38,650$18.58$33,235
Median (50th)$47,920$23.04$40,684
75th percentile$58,430$28.09$49,129
90th percentile (top earners)$65,730$31.60$54,994

Best cities for bus drivers, school (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Seattle, WA$66,380$55,516$49,9554,070
2San Francisco, CA$73,680$57,024$49,3232,350
3Hartford, CT$61,560$49,798$48,4672,680
4Boston, MA$65,170$51,506$47,5736,470
5Providence, RI$59,320$48,236$47,3962,690
6Riverside, CA$61,900$49,348$46,3622,980
7Portland, OR$62,190$47,538$45,0932,850
8Baltimore, MD$57,850$46,278$44,2913,120
9Los Angeles, CA$61,580$49,115$43,2484,090
10Buffalo, NY$51,500$41,376$43,1702,940
11Rochester, NY$51,780$41,586$42,8573,080
12Kansas City, MO$48,110$39,513$42,6962,530
13Indianapolis, IN$49,890$40,824$42,6604,020
14Washington, DC$57,610$46,171$42,4048,620
15New York, NY$59,790$47,590$42,27829,280
16St. Louis, MO$48,100$39,505$41,5464,470
17Virginia Beach, VA$50,190$40,436$41,2862,390
18Philadelphia, PA$51,960$42,335$41,2808,980
19Cincinnati, OH$46,870$39,333$41,2432,530
20Austin, TX$46,910$39,872$40,6593,050
21Pittsburgh, PA$46,840$38,378$40,5385,570
22Charlotte, NC$46,020$37,830$38,8603,970
23Minneapolis, MN$50,240$40,655$38,7858,070
24Dallas, TX$47,030$39,969$38,7719,030
25Atlanta, GA$47,310$38,361$38,33911,190

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Bus Drivers, School salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
Massachusetts $65,170+3.4%$51,506 $44,530 – $71,9809,330
Washington $63,370+5.2%$53,098 $49,670 – $75,5309,660
Connecticut $61,520+3.7%$49,768 $45,830 – $65,0907,970
California $61,040+4.7%$48,720 $45,870 – $73,68016,600
New Jersey $59,430+0.5%$48,196 $46,640 – $71,52013,670
Hawaii $59,090+15.4%$46,698 $45,760 – $73,970630
Rhode Island $58,700+18.8%$47,761 $47,780 – $67,1801,800
New York $56,640+0.2%$45,229 $46,270 – $76,07038,320
Vermont $56,580+13.6%$46,180 $39,840 – $61,970860
Maryland $56,450+10.6%$45,220 $38,280 – $63,9509,020
District of Columbia $55,450+1.8%$44,573 $51,850 – $55,480510
Alaska $54,200+8.7%$45,730 $36,470 – $59,910790
Utah $52,890+3.2%$43,263 $37,010 – $69,1101,920
Colorado $52,620+6.3%$42,853 $40,640 – $70,5403,840
Oregon $51,270−1.6%$39,719 $45,830 – $67,2605,210
New Hampshire $50,990+6.9%$43,150 $36,030 – $60,6502,040
North Dakota $50,790+0.7%$42,990 $43,780 – $81,2201,530
Virginia $50,190+3.3%$40,436 $38,830 – $67,06012,930
Illinois $49,090−1.3%$39,339 $38,310 – $62,56021,230
Minnesota $48,940−1.3%$39,699 $36,580 – $62,17013,110
Maine $48,640+2.6%$39,161 $39,050 – $58,5901,670
Indiana $48,020+2.0%$39,377 $22,900 – $65,24011,780
Nebraska $47,760+0.9%$39,262 $36,800 – $58,3402,330
Wisconsin $47,760+0.6%$39,235 $38,930 – $62,7807,840
Pennsylvania $47,530+4.0%$38,911 $34,950 – $60,66023,670
Missouri $46,880+7.7%$38,582 $33,980 – $58,7308,970
Michigan $46,380+1.6%$37,726 $37,860 – $54,5008,780
Iowa $46,320+2.1%$38,290 $28,440 – $63,2004,840
Idaho $46,250+9.9%$37,999 $36,380 – $56,4102,960
Montana $46,220+0.9%$37,902 $36,120 – $57,8701,630
Arizona $46,050+5.6%$38,239 $37,370 – $52,8705,020
Kansas $45,860+2.5%$37,269 $33,570 – $55,8104,830
Ohio $45,860−2.2%$38,550 $30,100 – $60,0705,540
Wyoming $45,520−1.0%$38,755 $38,830 – $56,1301,360
Arkansas $45,500+8.3%$37,177 $24,080 – $63,3004,340
New Mexico $45,470−1.7%$37,727 $31,020 – $65,1401,870
Georgia $44,950+19.8%$36,587 $20,740 – $62,06016,880
Kentucky $44,830+10.4%$36,749 $36,760 – $63,4706,820
Florida $44,690+14.1%$38,088 $35,510 – $54,84013,470
Tennessee $44,510+8.3%$37,944 $22,900 – $61,6007,050
Texas $44,490+4.0%$37,928 $23,690 – $60,74037,550
Delaware $42,390−4.4%$34,565 $36,380 – $60,9101,350
South Carolina $39,900−5.7%$33,003 $23,640 – $57,1505,900
South Dakota $39,730+2.6%$34,103 $33,480 – $50,5301,290
North Carolina $37,460+2.3%$31,293 $32,270 – $46,96012,390
Nevada $37,280+2.5%$32,134 $37,280 – $50,3102,590
Oklahoma $36,920−1.4%$30,729 $20,850 – $48,1103,710
West Virginia $33,360+10.9%$28,107 $29,610 – $36,6704,690
Mississippi $30,640+5.9%$26,306 $18,680 – $47,3003,790
Louisiana $29,450−8.1%$25,346 $21,000 – $50,7506,670
Alabama $17,630+0.1%$15,512 $16,560 – $21,58010,410

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Taxi Driver$42,100No formal educational credential+11.5%
Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur$37,290No formal educational credential+7.1%
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$59,050High school diploma or equivalent+4.1%
Light Truck Driver$44,860High school diploma or equivalent+6.3%
Driver/Sales Worker$38,770High school diploma or equivalent+7.9%
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver$58,640Postsecondary nondegree award+3.8%
Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$37,180No formal educational credential+2.8%
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians$35,450High school diploma or equivalent-1.3%
Motorboat Operator$47,520Postsecondary nondegree award+4.9%
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator$46,420No formal educational credential+1.5%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a bus drivers, school make?

The national median salary for bus drivers, school is $47,920 a year ($23.04 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $29,240 and the top 10% earn over $65,730. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays bus drivers, school the most?

Massachusetts has the highest median pay at $65,170. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many bus drivers, school are there in the U.S.?

About 402,930 people work as bus drivers, school nationwide.

All 30 cities