Bus Drivers, School Salary in Columbia, MO
Bus Drivers, School in the Columbia, MO metro area earn a median $44,090 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,471 take-home, or $3,039 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, school salary in Columbia, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,111
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,734
- Medicare (1.45%)$639
- Missouri income tax$1,135
- Take-home pay$36,471
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Bus Drivers, School pay by experience in Columbia, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,740 | $17.66 | $30,911 | $2,576 |
| 25th percentile | $44,090 | $21.20 | $36,471 | $3,039 |
| Median (50th) | $44,090 | $21.20 | $36,471 | $3,039 |
| 75th percentile | $46,030 | $22.13 | $37,939 | $3,162 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,860 | $25.89 | $43,862 | $3,655 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,090 buys in Columbia, MO
Prices in Columbia, MO are 10.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 31% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus drivers, school's $36,471 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,778 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Columbia, MO has 2.1× 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
Columbia, MO ranks #73 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 |
| 73 | Columbia, MO | $44,090 | $36,471 | $40,778 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $48,110
- St. Louis, MO — $48,100
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus drivers, school make in Columbia, MO?
The median bus drivers, school salary in the Columbia, MO metro area is $44,090 a year, or about $21.20 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,090 and $46,030.
What is a bus drivers, school’s take-home pay in Columbia, MO?
On the median $44,090 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $36,471 a year ($3,039 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,135 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, MO a good place to work as a bus drivers, school?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $47,920. Local prices are 10.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,778 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, MO ranks #73 of 141 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus drivers, school afford rent in Columbia, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbia, MO is $978 a month ($1,138 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median bus drivers, school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbia, MO
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $52,820
- Light Truck Driver — $42,710
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $38,070
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,720