Bus Drivers, School Salary in Lakeland, FL
Bus Drivers, School in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area earn a median $45,900 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,061 take-home, or $3,255 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, school salary in Lakeland, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,328
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,846
- Medicare (1.45%)$666
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$39,061
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Bus Drivers, School pay by experience in Lakeland, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,040 | $13.00 | $23,877 | $1,990 |
| 25th percentile | $36,590 | $17.59 | $31,580 | $2,632 |
| Median (50th) | $45,900 | $22.07 | $39,061 | $3,255 |
| 75th percentile | $57,550 | $27.67 | $48,421 | $4,035 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,510 | $28.13 | $49,193 | $4,099 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,900 buys in Lakeland, FL
Prices in Lakeland, FL are 2.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 4% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus drivers, school's $39,061 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,210 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 Lakeland, FL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.85).
Best-paying cities for bus drivers, school, adjusted for cost of living
Lakeland, FL ranks #81 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 |
| 81 | Lakeland, FL | $45,900 | $39,061 | $40,210 |
*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 Florida
- Port St. Lucie, FL — $48,240
- Jacksonville, FL — $47,180
- Tampa, FL — $45,860
- Miami, FL — $45,540
- Cape Coral, FL — $40,120
- Orlando, FL — $38,790
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus drivers, school make in Lakeland, FL?
The median bus drivers, school salary in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area is $45,900 a year, or about $22.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,590 and $57,550.
What is a bus drivers, school’s take-home pay in Lakeland, FL?
On the median $45,900 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $39,061 a year ($3,255 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Lakeland, FL a good place to work as a bus drivers, school?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $47,920. Local prices are 2.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,210 would in a typical U.S. city. Lakeland, FL ranks #81 of 141 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus drivers, school afford rent in Lakeland, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lakeland, FL is $1,230 a month ($1,497 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median bus drivers, school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lakeland, FL
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $62,130
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $57,090
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $48,290
- Light Truck Driver — $46,010
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $42,800
- Stocker and Order Filler — $39,690
- Driver/Sales Worker — $36,070
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $32,680
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $30,850