Bus Drivers, School Salary in Salem, OR
Bus Drivers, School in the Salem, OR metro area earn a median $51,570 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,934 take-home, or $3,328 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, school salary in Salem, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,008
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,197
- Medicare (1.45%)$748
- Oregon income tax$3,683
- Take-home pay$39,934
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
Bus Drivers, School pay by experience in Salem, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,610 | $22.89 | $37,098 | $3,092 |
| 25th percentile | $47,760 | $22.96 | $37,206 | $3,100 |
| Median (50th) | $51,570 | $24.79 | $39,934 | $3,328 |
| 75th percentile | $57,980 | $27.88 | $44,523 | $3,710 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,580 | $28.16 | $44,953 | $3,746 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,570 buys in Salem, OR
Prices in Salem, OR are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.10× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus drivers, school's $39,934 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,528 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Salem, OR has 1.6× 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
Salem, OR ranks #102 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 |
| 102 | Salem, OR | $51,570 | $39,934 | $38,528 |
*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 Oregon
- Portland, OR — $62,190
- Eugene, OR — $48,140
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus drivers, school make in Salem, OR?
The median bus drivers, school salary in the Salem, OR metro area is $51,570 a year, or about $24.79 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,760 and $57,980.
What is a bus drivers, school’s take-home pay in Salem, OR?
On the median $51,570 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $39,934 a year ($3,328 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,683 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Salem, OR a good place to work as a bus drivers, school?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $47,920. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,528 would in a typical U.S. city. Salem, OR ranks #102 of 141 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus drivers, school afford rent in Salem, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Salem, OR is $1,201 a month ($1,560 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median bus drivers, school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Salem, OR
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $60,580
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $60,500
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $47,790
- Light Truck Driver — $46,330
- Stocker and Order Filler — $41,520
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $40,360
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $37,400
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $35,410
- Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant — $34,100
- Driver/Sales Worker — $32,850