Bus Drivers, School Salary in Knoxville, TN
Bus Drivers, School in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $31,340 a year — 35% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,362 take-home, or $2,280 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, school salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,581
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,943
- Medicare (1.45%)$454
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$27,362
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Bus Drivers, School pay by experience in Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,740 | $12.38 | $22,807 | $1,901 |
| 25th percentile | $27,220 | $13.09 | $24,026 | $2,002 |
| Median (50th) | $31,340 | $15.07 | $27,362 | $2,280 |
| 75th percentile | $48,360 | $23.25 | $41,037 | $3,420 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,980 | $23.55 | $41,535 | $3,461 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,340 buys in Knoxville, TN
Prices in Knoxville, TN are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 17% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus drivers, school's $27,362 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,558 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 Knoxville, TN than nationally (location quotient 0.66), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bus drivers, school, adjusted for cost of living
Knoxville, TN ranks #133 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 |
| 133 | Knoxville, TN | $31,340 | $27,362 | $29,558 |
*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 Tennessee
- Kingsport, TN — $48,820
- Nashville, TN — $51,600
- Chattanooga, TN — $42,460
- Memphis, TN — $37,920
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus drivers, school make in Knoxville, TN?
The median bus drivers, school salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $31,340 a year, or about $15.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,220 and $48,360.
What is a bus drivers, school’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $31,340 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $27,362 a year ($2,280 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a bus drivers, school?
Pay here is 35% below the national median of $47,920. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,558 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #133 of 141 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus drivers, school afford rent in Knoxville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Knoxville, TN is $1,126 a month ($1,401 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median bus drivers, school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $60,160
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,100
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $42,410
- Driver/Sales Worker — $39,800
- Light Truck Driver — $39,330
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,400
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $36,410
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,410
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $33,890
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $31,400
- Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant — $30,720