Bus Drivers, School Salary in Columbia, SC
Bus Drivers, School in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $36,960 a year — 23% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,817 take-home, or $2,568 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, school salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,255
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,292
- Medicare (1.45%)$536
- South Carolina income tax$1,061
- Take-home pay$30,817
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Bus Drivers, School pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,790 | $13.84 | $24,742 | $2,062 |
| 25th percentile | $30,630 | $14.73 | $26,111 | $2,176 |
| Median (50th) | $36,960 | $17.77 | $30,817 | $2,568 |
| 75th percentile | $48,800 | $23.46 | $39,620 | $3,302 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,150 | $27.48 | $45,828 | $3,819 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,960 buys in Columbia, SC
Prices in Columbia, SC are 6.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus drivers, school's $30,817 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,902 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 about as common in Columbia, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.97).
Best-paying cities for bus drivers, school, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #126 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 |
| 126 | Columbia, SC | $36,960 | $30,817 | $32,902 |
*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 South Carolina
- Charleston, SC — $46,460
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus drivers, school make in Columbia, SC?
The median bus drivers, school salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $36,960 a year, or about $17.77 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,630 and $48,800.
What is a bus drivers, school’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $36,960 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $30,817 a year ($2,568 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,061 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a bus drivers, school?
Pay here is 23% below the national median of $47,920. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,902 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #126 of 141 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus drivers, school afford rent in Columbia, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbia, SC is $1,139 a month ($1,255 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median bus drivers, school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $62,860
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $51,280
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $43,500
- Light Truck Driver — $37,600
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,530
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,180
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $34,380
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $31,240
- Driver/Sales Worker — $22,900