Bus Drivers, School Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Bus Drivers, School in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $46,760 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,791 take-home, or $3,233 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, school salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,431
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,899
- Medicare (1.45%)$678
- Arizona income tax$960
- Take-home pay$38,791
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Bus Drivers, School pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,270 | $18.40 | $32,182 | $2,682 |
| 25th percentile | $43,870 | $21.09 | $36,542 | $3,045 |
| Median (50th) | $46,760 | $22.48 | $38,791 | $3,233 |
| 75th percentile | $49,460 | $23.78 | $40,893 | $3,408 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,150 | $26.51 | $45,323 | $3,777 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,760 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus drivers, school's $38,791 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,546 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 Phoenix, AZ than nationally (location quotient 0.49), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bus drivers, school, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #28 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 |
| 28 | Phoenix, AZ | $46,760 | $38,791 | $37,546 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus drivers, school make in Phoenix, AZ?
The median bus drivers, school salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $46,760 a year, or about $22.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $43,870 and $49,460.
What is a bus drivers, school’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $46,760 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $38,791 a year ($3,233 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $960 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a bus drivers, school?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $47,920. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,546 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #28 of 30 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus drivers, school afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median bus drivers, school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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