How much does a bus driver make?
The median bus driver in the United States earns $59,050 per year, about $28.39 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all bus drivers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 53-3052.
Bus driver salary range
Pay for bus drivers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $40,030 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $84,700. The average (mean) wage of $60,280 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,030 | $19.25 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $47,530 | $22.85 | |
| Median (50th) | $59,050 | $28.39 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $70,700 | $33.99 | |
| 90th percentile | $84,700 | $40.72 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for bus drivers, transit and intercity (SOC 53-3052), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Bus driver salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Bus drivers earn the most in New York at $84,480 a year, and the least in Arkansas at $37,520. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $84,480 | 16,770 |
| Washington | $72,280 | 6,960 |
| Hawaii | $68,500 | 2,190 |
| California | $67,130 | 24,380 |
| Oregon | $65,510 | 2,620 |
| Massachusetts | $65,460 | 3,970 |
| Maryland | $65,220 | 4,890 |
| Illinois | $65,200 | 8,650 |
| Alaska | $64,150 | 250 |
| Colorado | $63,010 | 3,540 |
| Ohio | $62,760 | 4,000 |
| Nevada | $61,700 | 2,540 |
| New Jersey | $61,140 | 6,420 |
| Missouri | $60,660 | 1,860 |
| Delaware | $60,510 | 380 |
| Connecticut | $60,100 | 1,830 |
| Indiana | $58,410 | 2,130 |
| Maine | $57,870 | 470 |
| District of Columbia | $55,580 | 150 |
| New Hampshire | $54,830 | 300 |
| Kentucky | $54,550 | 2,570 |
| Arizona | $53,870 | 3,240 |
| Vermont | $53,830 | 440 |
| Virginia | $52,940 | 3,800 |
| Wisconsin | $52,660 | 2,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,360 | 4,710 |
| Utah | $50,730 | 1,230 |
| Oklahoma | $50,300 | 1,760 |
| Minnesota | $50,200 | 2,610 |
| Idaho | $49,000 | 520 |
| North Dakota | $48,890 | 250 |
| Louisiana | $48,860 | 1,490 |
| Texas | $48,740 | 11,600 |
| Rhode Island | $48,610 | 70 |
| Florida | $48,300 | 9,130 |
| Tennessee | $47,770 | 1,970 |
| Michigan | $47,660 | 3,620 |
| Iowa | $45,890 | 1,560 |
| Montana | $45,640 | 450 |
| Wyoming | $45,630 | 130 |
| New Mexico | $45,610 | 580 |
| Georgia | $45,500 | 3,700 |
| Nebraska | $45,120 | 460 |
| North Carolina | $44,060 | 2,900 |
| South Carolina | $43,330 | 630 |
| South Dakota | $41,590 | 410 |
| Kansas | $41,340 | 430 |
| West Virginia | $39,260 | 520 |
| Mississippi | $38,570 | 400 |
| Alabama | $37,700 | 960 |
| Arkansas | $37,520 | 570 |
State median wages for bus drivers, transit and intercity (SOC 53-3052), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for bus drivers
The BLS projects employment of bus drivers to grow 4.1% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 166,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 173,300 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 21,100 openings a year for 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 bus driver
The typical entry-level education for bus drivers is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-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 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 (New York, $84,480) and the lowest (Arkansas, $37,520) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 159,240 people work as bus drivers in the United States. At $59,050 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Bus driver salary FAQ
How much does a bus driver make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a bus driver is $28.39. The middle half of bus drivers earn between $22.85 and $33.99 per hour.
What is the highest bus driver salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of bus drivers earn more than $84,700 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a bus driver make a year?
The median annual salary for a bus driver is $59,050. The average (mean) wage of $60,280 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a bus driver a well paid job?
At $59,050 a year, a bus driver earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 159,240 people work as bus drivers in the United States.
Which state pays bus drivers the most?
New York has the highest median salary for bus drivers at $84,480 a year. Washington ($72,280) and Hawaii ($68,500) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a bus driver a good career?
Employment of bus drivers is projected to grow 4.1% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 21,100 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a bus driver?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for bus drivers as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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