Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Salary in Seattle, WA
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $83,430 a year — 41% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $67,523 take-home, or $5,627 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, transit and intercity salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,525
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,173
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,210
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$67,523
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,750 | $28.73 | $50,189 | $4,182 |
| 25th percentile | $65,560 | $31.52 | $54,857 | $4,571 |
| Median (50th) | $83,430 | $40.11 | $67,523 | $5,627 |
| 75th percentile | $93,180 | $44.80 | $74,382 | $6,199 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,180 | $44.80 | $74,382 | $6,199 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $83,430 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus drivers, transit and intercity's $67,523 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,759 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Seattle, WA has 2.1× the national concentration of bus drivers, transit and intercity jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bus drivers, transit and intercity, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #1 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 Seattle, WA?
The median bus drivers, transit and intercity salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $83,430 a year, or about $40.11 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $65,560 and $93,180.
What is a bus drivers, transit and intercity’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $83,430 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $67,523 a year ($5,627 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a bus drivers, transit and intercity?
Pay here is 41% above the national median of $59,050. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,759 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #1 of 11 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus drivers, transit and intercity afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 36% 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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