Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Salary in Atlanta, GA

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $46,430 a year — 21% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,700 take-home, or $3,142 a month.

Median salary
$46,430
$22.32 per hour
Typical range
$42,300 – $57,940
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Atlanta, GA
2,590
0.88× national concentration
▼2.1%
Pay trend: The median for bus drivers, transit and intercity in Atlanta, GA fell from $47,410 (May 2024) to $46,430 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 4.5%.

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, transit and intercity salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in Atlanta, GA
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$37,700
per year · effective tax rate 18.8%
$3,142Monthly
$1,571Twice a month
$1,450Every 2 weeks
$18.12Hourly
  • Federal income tax$3,392
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,879
  • Medicare (1.45%)$673
  • Georgia income tax$1,787
  • Take-home pay$37,700

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% state

Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity pay by experience in Atlanta, GA

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$42,300$20.34$34,595$2,883
25th percentile$43,750$21.03$35,685$2,974
Median (50th)$46,430$22.32$37,700$3,142
75th percentile$57,940$27.86$46,351$3,863
90th percentile (top earners)$57,940$27.86$46,351$3,863

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $46,430 buys in Atlanta, GA

Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus drivers, transit and intercity's $37,700 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,678 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,646
52% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,806
57% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$1,496
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity jobs are about as common in Atlanta, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).

Best-paying cities for bus drivers, transit and intercity, adjusted for cost of living

Atlanta, GA ranks #10 of 11 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1Seattle, WA $83,430$67,523$60,759
2New York, NY $78,130$60,172$53,457
3San Francisco, CA $78,900$60,202$52,072
4Boston, MA $70,120$54,873$50,684
5Chicago, IL $65,200$51,486$49,699
6Washington, DC $65,220$51,791$47,566
7Los Angeles, CA $68,020$53,568$47,169
8Baltimore, MD $57,800$46,240$44,255
10Atlanta, GA$46,430$37,700$37,678

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 11 metros →

About the job: bus drivers, transit and intercity

Drive bus or motor coach, including regular route operations, charters, and private carriage. May assist passengers with baggage. May collect fares or tickets.

Typical education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
+4.1% (about average)

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a bus drivers, transit and intercity make in Atlanta, GA?

The median bus drivers, transit and intercity salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $46,430 a year, or about $22.32 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $43,750 and $57,940.

What is a bus drivers, transit and intercity’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?

On the median $46,430 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $37,700 a year ($3,142 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,787 in Georgia taxes in 2026.

Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a bus drivers, transit and intercity?

Pay here is 21% below the national median of $59,050. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,678 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #10 of 11 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a bus drivers, transit and intercity afford rent in Atlanta, GA?

HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median bus drivers, transit and intercity’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

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