Bus Drivers, School Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Bus Drivers, School in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $48,290 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,637 take-home, or $3,303 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, school salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,615
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,994
- Medicare (1.45%)$700
- Wisconsin income tax$1,344
- Take-home pay$39,637
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Bus Drivers, School pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,610 | $22.41 | $38,361 | $3,197 |
| 25th percentile | $47,230 | $22.71 | $38,832 | $3,236 |
| Median (50th) | $48,290 | $23.22 | $39,637 | $3,303 |
| 75th percentile | $49,990 | $24.03 | $40,928 | $3,411 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,000 | $27.40 | $46,253 | $3,854 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,290 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus drivers, school's $39,637 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,890 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 Milwaukee, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for bus drivers, school, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #70 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 |
| 70 | Milwaukee, WI | $48,290 | $39,637 | $40,890 |
*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 Wisconsin
- Green Bay, WI — $46,610
- Madison, WI — $48,450
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus drivers, school make in Milwaukee, WI?
The median bus drivers, school salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $48,290 a year, or about $23.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,230 and $49,990.
What is a bus drivers, school’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $48,290 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $39,637 a year ($3,303 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,344 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a bus drivers, school?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $47,920. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,890 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #70 of 141 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus drivers, school afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median bus drivers, school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Milwaukee, WI
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $64,100
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $61,360
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,580
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $47,780
- Light Truck Driver — $45,790
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,840
- Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant — $36,510
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $35,940
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $35,080
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $35,070
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,470
- Parking Attendant — $30,470