Bus Drivers, School Salary in Bakersfield, CA
Bus Drivers, School in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area earn a median $51,880 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $42,029 take-home, or $3,502 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, school salary in Bakersfield, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,046
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,217
- Medicare (1.45%)$752
- California income tax$1,162
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$674
- Take-home pay$42,029
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Bus Drivers, School pay by experience in Bakersfield, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,500 | $20.43 | $35,087 | $2,924 |
| 25th percentile | $47,860 | $23.01 | $39,092 | $3,258 |
| Median (50th) | $51,880 | $24.94 | $42,029 | $3,502 |
| 75th percentile | $57,820 | $27.80 | $46,368 | $3,864 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,210 | $29.91 | $49,575 | $4,131 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,880 buys in Bakersfield, CA
Prices in Bakersfield, CA are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 10% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus drivers, school's $42,029 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,660 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Bus Drivers, School jobs are less concentrated in Bakersfield, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.54), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bus drivers, school, adjusted for cost of living
Bakersfield, CA ranks #59 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 |
| 59 | Bakersfield, CA | $51,880 | $42,029 | $41,660 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 141 metros →
Bus Drivers, School salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $75,230
- San Francisco, CA — $73,680
- Riverside, CA — $61,900
- Sacramento, CA — $60,390
- Los Angeles, CA — $61,580
- San Diego, CA — $60,440
- Fresno, CA — $52,650
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus drivers, school make in Bakersfield, CA?
The median bus drivers, school salary in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area is $51,880 a year, or about $24.94 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,860 and $57,820.
What is a bus drivers, school’s take-home pay in Bakersfield, CA?
On the median $51,880 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $42,029 a year ($3,502 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,837 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Bakersfield, CA a good place to work as a bus drivers, school?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $47,920. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,660 would in a typical U.S. city. Bakersfield, CA ranks #59 of 141 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus drivers, school afford rent in Bakersfield, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Bakersfield, CA is $1,140 a month ($1,483 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median bus drivers, school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Bakersfield, CA
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $67,490
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $57,690
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $46,890
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $44,980
- Light Truck Driver — $43,320
- Stocker and Order Filler — $39,070
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $37,250
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $36,510
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $35,260
- Driver/Sales Worker — $34,320