Bus Drivers, School Salary in Olympia, WA
Bus Drivers, School in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area earn a median $60,460 a year — 26% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,760 take-home, or $4,230 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, school salary in Olympia, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,075
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,749
- Medicare (1.45%)$877
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$50,760
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Bus Drivers, School pay by experience in Olympia, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,610 | $23.85 | $42,042 | $3,503 |
| 25th percentile | $57,630 | $27.71 | $48,486 | $4,040 |
| Median (50th) | $60,460 | $29.07 | $50,760 | $4,230 |
| 75th percentile | $63,070 | $30.32 | $52,857 | $4,405 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $70,000 | $33.65 | $58,075 | $4,840 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,460 buys in Olympia, WA
Prices in Olympia, WA are 3.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.17× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus drivers, school's $50,760 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,963 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Olympia, WA has 1.4× the national concentration of bus drivers, school jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bus drivers, school, adjusted for cost of living
Olympia, WA ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Olympia, WA | $60,460 | $50,760 | $48,963 |
*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 Washington
- Seattle, WA — $66,380
- Yakima, WA — $52,480
- Kennewick, WA — $53,750
- Spokane, WA — $50,040
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus drivers, school make in Olympia, WA?
The median bus drivers, school salary in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area is $60,460 a year, or about $29.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,630 and $63,070.
What is a bus drivers, school’s take-home pay in Olympia, WA?
On the median $60,460 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $50,760 a year ($4,230 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Olympia, WA a good place to work as a bus drivers, school?
Pay here is 26% above the national median of $47,920. Local prices are 3.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,963 would in a typical U.S. city. Olympia, WA ranks #9 of 141 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus drivers, school afford rent in Olympia, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Olympia, WA is $1,682 a month ($1,960 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median bus drivers, school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Olympia, WA
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $63,040
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $48,520
- Light Truck Driver — $45,820
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,760
- Stocker and Order Filler — $44,070