Bus Drivers, School Salary in Portland, OR
Bus Drivers, School in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $62,190 a year — 30% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,538 take-home, or $3,961 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, school salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,283
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,856
- Medicare (1.45%)$902
- Oregon income tax$4,612
- Take-home pay$47,538
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. 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 Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,140 | $24.11 | $38,910 | $3,242 |
| 25th percentile | $51,260 | $24.64 | $39,712 | $3,309 |
| Median (50th) | $62,190 | $29.90 | $47,538 | $3,961 |
| 75th percentile | $64,620 | $31.07 | $49,278 | $4,106 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,470 | $34.36 | $53,685 | $4,474 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,190 buys in Portland, OR
Prices in Portland, OR are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus drivers, school's $47,538 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,093 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 Portland, OR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for bus drivers, school, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, OR ranks #7 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 |
*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 Portland, OR?
The median bus drivers, school salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $62,190 a year, or about $29.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $51,260 and $64,620.
What is a bus drivers, school’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $62,190 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $47,538 a year ($3,961 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,612 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a bus drivers, school?
Pay here is 30% above the national median of $47,920. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,093 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #7 of 30 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus drivers, school afford rent in Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, OR is $1,677 a month ($1,922 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median bus drivers, school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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