Bus Drivers, School Salary in Kansas City, MO
Bus Drivers, School in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn a median $48,110 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,513 take-home, or $3,293 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, school salary in Kansas City, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,593
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,983
- Medicare (1.45%)$698
- Missouri income tax$1,324
- Take-home pay$39,513
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in Kansas City, MO? City residents also pay Kansas City, MO’s Earnings Tax — about $481 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $39,031 ($3,253 a month). Choose “Kansas City, MO” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Kansas City, MO-KS metro spans Missouri, Kansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Bus Drivers, School pay by experience in Kansas City, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,960 | $17.77 | $31,078 | $2,590 |
| 25th percentile | $44,840 | $21.56 | $37,039 | $3,087 |
| Median (50th) | $48,110 | $23.13 | $39,513 | $3,293 |
| 75th percentile | $54,810 | $26.35 | $44,581 | $3,715 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,860 | $27.34 | $46,132 | $3,844 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,110 buys in Kansas City, MO
Prices in Kansas City, MO are 7.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus drivers, school's $39,513 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,696 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 Kansas City, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.89).
Best-paying cities for bus drivers, school, adjusted for cost of living
Kansas City, MO ranks #12 of 30 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $66,380 | $55,516 | $49,955 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $73,680 | $57,024 | $49,323 |
| 3 | Hartford, CT | $61,560 | $49,798 | $48,467 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $65,170 | $51,506 | $47,573 |
| 5 | Providence, RI | $59,320 | $48,236 | $47,396 |
| 6 | Riverside, CA | $61,900 | $49,348 | $46,362 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $62,190 | $47,538 | $45,093 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $57,850 | $46,278 | $44,291 |
| 12 | Kansas City, MO | $48,110 | $39,513 | $42,696 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 30 metros →
About the job: bus drivers, school
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)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Bus Drivers, School salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- St. Louis, MO — $48,100
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus drivers, school make in Kansas City, MO?
The median bus drivers, school salary in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $48,110 a year, or about $23.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,840 and $54,810.
What is a bus drivers, school’s take-home pay in Kansas City, MO?
On the median $48,110 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $39,513 a year ($3,293 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,324 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Kansas City, MO a good place to work as a bus drivers, school?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $47,920. Local prices are 7.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,696 would in a typical U.S. city. Kansas City, MO ranks #12 of 30 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus drivers, school afford rent in Kansas City, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kansas City, MO is $1,193 a month ($1,355 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median bus drivers, school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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