Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Salary in Boston, MA
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $70,120 a year — 19% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $54,873 take-home, or $4,573 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, transit and intercity salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,596
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,347
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,017
- Massachusetts income tax$3,286
- Take-home pay$54,873
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. 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, Transit and Intercity pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,580 | $25.28 | $42,019 | $3,502 |
| 25th percentile | $60,740 | $29.20 | $48,168 | $4,014 |
| Median (50th) | $70,120 | $33.71 | $54,873 | $4,573 |
| 75th percentile | $93,500 | $44.95 | $70,152 | $5,846 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,500 | $44.95 | $70,152 | $5,846 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $70,120 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus drivers, transit and intercity's $54,873 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,684 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, Transit and Intercity jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.18).
Best-paying cities for bus drivers, transit and intercity, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #4 of 11 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $83,430 | $67,523 | $60,759 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $78,130 | $60,172 | $53,457 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $78,900 | $60,202 | $52,072 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $70,120 | $54,873 | $50,684 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $65,200 | $51,486 | $49,699 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $65,220 | $51,791 | $47,566 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $68,020 | $53,568 | $47,169 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $57,800 | $46,240 | $44,255 |
*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 Boston, MA?
The median bus drivers, transit and intercity salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $70,120 a year, or about $33.71 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,740 and $93,500.
What is a bus drivers, transit and intercity’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $70,120 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $54,873 a year ($4,573 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,286 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a bus drivers, transit and intercity?
Pay here is 19% above the national median of $59,050. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,684 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #4 of 11 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus drivers, transit and intercity afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 50% of a median bus drivers, transit and intercity’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
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- Bus Drivers, School — $65,170
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $64,010
- Flight Attendant — $61,510
- Light Truck Driver — $49,630
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $47,800
- Driver/Sales Worker — $47,340
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $45,600
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $43,590
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $38,950
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,700
- Parking Attendant — $37,360