How much does a school bus driver make?
The median school bus driver in the United States earns $47,040 per year, about $22.62 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all school bus drivers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 53-3051.
School bus driver salary range
Pay for school bus drivers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $27,680 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $63,810. The average (mean) wage is $46,660, close to the median.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,680 | $13.31 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $37,490 | $18.03 | |
| Median (50th) | $47,040 | $22.62 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $56,140 | $26.99 | |
| 90th percentile | $63,810 | $30.68 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for bus drivers, school (SOC 53-3051), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
School bus driver salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. School bus drivers earn the most in Massachusetts at $63,030 a year, and the least in Alabama at $17,620. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $63,030 | 10,240 |
| Washington | $60,250 | 9,420 |
| Connecticut | $59,340 | 6,980 |
| New Jersey | $59,140 | 12,200 |
| California | $58,280 | 14,580 |
| New York | $56,510 | 37,520 |
| District of Columbia | $54,450 | 530 |
| Oregon | $52,090 | 4,460 |
| Utah | $51,270 | 1,430 |
| Hawaii | $51,210 | 530 |
| Maryland | $51,040 | 8,320 |
| North Dakota | $50,420 | 1,580 |
| Alaska | $49,880 | 660 |
| Vermont | $49,800 | 1,020 |
| Illinois | $49,760 | 20,060 |
| Minnesota | $49,600 | 10,860 |
| Colorado | $49,490 | 3,720 |
| Rhode Island | $49,430 | 2,040 |
| Virginia | $48,600 | 13,530 |
| New Hampshire | $47,700 | 2,260 |
| Wisconsin | $47,480 | 9,000 |
| Maine | $47,390 | 1,690 |
| Nebraska | $47,320 | 2,240 |
| Indiana | $47,070 | 10,700 |
| Ohio | $46,900 | 5,450 |
| New Mexico | $46,240 | 1,910 |
| Wyoming | $45,960 | 1,210 |
| Montana | $45,810 | 1,580 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,710 | 23,580 |
| Michigan | $45,670 | 8,960 |
| Iowa | $45,380 | 5,140 |
| Kansas | $44,720 | 4,910 |
| Delaware | $44,360 | 1,260 |
| Arizona | $43,610 | 4,710 |
| Missouri | $43,520 | 8,680 |
| Texas | $42,780 | 34,320 |
| South Carolina | $42,330 | 5,930 |
| Idaho | $42,070 | 2,010 |
| Arkansas | $42,020 | 4,530 |
| Tennessee | $41,100 | 7,660 |
| Kentucky | $40,610 | 7,160 |
| Florida | $39,170 | 12,730 |
| South Dakota | $38,710 | 1,290 |
| Georgia | $37,510 | 16,350 |
| Oklahoma | $37,430 | 3,520 |
| North Carolina | $36,620 | 11,960 |
| Nevada | $36,380 | 2,390 |
| Louisiana | $32,030 | 6,240 |
| West Virginia | $30,080 | 3,330 |
| Mississippi | $28,940 | 3,880 |
| Alabama | $17,620 | 11,670 |
State median wages for bus drivers, school (SOC 53-3051), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for school bus drivers
The BLS projects employment of school bus drivers to hold roughly steady from 2025 to 2035. That is little or no change, compared with 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 396,800 jobs in 2025 moving toward 399,700 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 56,500 openings a year for school bus drivers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a school bus driver
The typical entry-level education for school bus drivers is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a school bus driver earns
Route type, employer, endorsements, and hours behind the wheel drive pay. Long-haul, specialized freight, and union employers tend to sit at the top of the range, while local and entry-level roles start lower.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Massachusetts, $63,030) and the lowest (Alabama, $17,620) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 387,920 people work as school bus drivers in the United States. At $47,040 a year, the job pays below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
School bus driver salary FAQ
How much does a school bus driver make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a school bus driver is $22.62. The middle half of school bus drivers earn between $18.03 and $26.99 per hour.
What is the highest school bus driver salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of school bus drivers earn more than $63,810 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a school bus driver make a year?
The median annual salary for a school bus driver is $47,040. The average (mean) wage is $46,660, close to the median.
Is being a school bus driver a well paid job?
At $47,040 a year, a school bus driver earns below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 387,920 people work as school bus drivers in the United States.
Which state pays school bus drivers the most?
Massachusetts has the highest median salary for school bus drivers at $63,030 a year. Washington ($60,250) and Connecticut ($59,340) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being a school bus driver a good career?
Employment of school bus drivers is projected to hold roughly steady 0.7% from 2025 to 2035, little or no change, compared with 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 56,500 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a school bus driver?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for school bus drivers as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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