Bus Drivers, School Salary in Albuquerque, NM
Bus Drivers, School in the Albuquerque, NM metro area earn a median $45,470 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,727 take-home, or $3,144 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, school salary in Albuquerque, NM. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,276
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,819
- Medicare (1.45%)$659
- New Mexico income tax$988
- Take-home pay$37,727
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.30% state
Bus Drivers, School pay by experience in Albuquerque, NM
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,020 | $14.91 | $26,721 | $2,227 |
| 25th percentile | $36,510 | $17.55 | $30,913 | $2,576 |
| Median (50th) | $45,470 | $21.86 | $37,727 | $3,144 |
| 75th percentile | $49,990 | $24.03 | $41,163 | $3,430 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,870 | $29.75 | $50,150 | $4,179 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New Mexico resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,470 buys in Albuquerque, NM
Prices in Albuquerque, NM are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus drivers, school's $37,727 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,486 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 Albuquerque, NM than nationally (location quotient 0.58), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bus drivers, school, adjusted for cost of living
Albuquerque, NM ranks #92 of 141 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield, MA | $65,730 | $51,928 | $54,057 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $75,230 | $57,970 | $52,498 |
| 3 | Worcester, MA | $65,640 | $51,860 | $50,584 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $66,380 | $55,516 | $49,955 |
| 5 | Waterbury, CT | $61,550 | $49,791 | $49,901 |
| 6 | Trenton, NJ | $63,400 | $51,167 | $49,590 |
| 7 | Monroe, LA | $50,060 | $41,288 | $49,389 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $73,680 | $57,024 | $49,323 |
| 92 | Albuquerque, NM | $45,470 | $37,727 | $39,486 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 141 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus drivers, school make in Albuquerque, NM?
The median bus drivers, school salary in the Albuquerque, NM metro area is $45,470 a year, or about $21.86 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,510 and $49,990.
What is a bus drivers, school’s take-home pay in Albuquerque, NM?
On the median $45,470 salary, a single filer living in New Mexico takes home about $37,727 a year ($3,144 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $988 in New Mexico taxes in 2026.
Is Albuquerque, NM a good place to work as a bus drivers, school?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $47,920. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,486 would in a typical U.S. city. Albuquerque, NM ranks #92 of 141 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus drivers, school afford rent in Albuquerque, NM?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Albuquerque, NM is $1,185 a month ($1,464 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median bus drivers, school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Albuquerque, NM
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $62,150
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $56,210
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $55,840
- Light Truck Driver — $41,710
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $37,470
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,230
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,240
- Driver/Sales Worker — $35,520
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $32,430
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $31,250