Bus Drivers, School Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Bus Drivers, School in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $51,960 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $42,335 take-home, or $3,528 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, school salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,055
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,222
- Medicare (1.45%)$753
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,595
- Take-home pay$42,335
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $1,943 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $40,391 ($3,366 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. 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 Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,450 | $18.97 | $32,667 | $2,722 |
| 25th percentile | $47,210 | $22.70 | $38,664 | $3,222 |
| Median (50th) | $51,960 | $24.98 | $42,335 | $3,528 |
| 75th percentile | $59,100 | $28.41 | $47,852 | $3,988 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,460 | $31.47 | $52,767 | $4,397 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,960 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus drivers, school's $42,335 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,280 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Philadelphia, PA has 1.2× 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
Philadelphia, PA ranks #18 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 |
| 18 | Philadelphia, PA | $51,960 | $42,335 | $41,280 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $46,840
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus drivers, school make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median bus drivers, school salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $51,960 a year, or about $24.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,210 and $59,100.
What is a bus drivers, school’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $51,960 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $42,335 a year ($3,528 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,595 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a bus drivers, school?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $47,920. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,280 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #18 of 30 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus drivers, school afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median bus drivers, school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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