The average wage for a bus driver in the United States is around $16.35 per hour.
Avg Wage
Bus drivers earn an average hourly wage of $16.35.
Salaries typically start from $7.21 per hour and go up to $31.25 per hour.
45% below national average Updated in 2023
Bus driver earnings by seniority
Top-level bus driver earnings begin at:
$31.25 per hour
$65,000 per year
Senior-level bus driver earnings begin at:
$24.04 per hour
$50,000 per year
Mid-level bus driver earnings begin at:
$16.35 per hour
$34,000 per year
Junior-level bus driver earnings begin at:
$11.06 per hour
$23,000 per year
Starting level bus driver earnings begin at:
$7.21 per hour
$15,000 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Bus driver salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $67,040 |
| Washington | $58,980 |
| Alaska | $55,590 |
| Massachusetts | $51,680 |
| Oregon | $50,870 |
| California | $50,760 |
| Connecticut | $50,550 |
| New Jersey | $49,670 |
| Illinois | $48,552 |
| Wisconsin | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $44,050 |
| New Hampshire | $41,870 |
| Vermont | $41,250 |
| Virginia | $40,930 |
| Nebraska | $40,440 |
| Delaware | $39,600 |
| Texas | $39,030 |
| Minnesota | $38,920 |
| Colorado | $38,560 |
| Ohio | $38,380 |
| Maryland | $38,340 |
| Rhode Island | $37,610 |
| Maine | $37,160 |
| Missouri | $37,070 |
| District of Columbia | $37,040 |
| Nevada | $36,370 |
| Montana | $36,300 |
| Wyoming | $36,270 |
| North Dakota | $36,170 |
| Tennessee | $36,020 |
| Utah | $35,850 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,801 |
| Arizona | $35,739 |
| Louisiana | $35,260 |
| Iowa | $34,380 |
| Kentucky | $33,910 |
| South Carolina | $33,880 |
| West Virginia | $33,720 |
| Michigan | $33,620 |
| Indiana | $33,011 |
| South Dakota | $32,830 |
| Kansas | $31,230 |
| Florida | $30,550 |
| Idaho | $30,280 |
| North Carolina | $29,710 |
| New Mexico | $28,790 |
| Mississippi | $28,680 |
| Arkansas | $28,259 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,990 |
| Georgia | $27,760 |
| Alabama | $27,160 |
| Oklahoma | $26,110 |
| Guam | $19,750 |
How do bus driver salaries compare to similar careers?
Bus drivers earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than cargo and freight agents but more than delivery service drivers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Cargo and freight agent salary | $48K |
| Aircraft mechanic salary | $45K |
| Sailor salary | $42K |
| Flight attendant salary | $38K |
| Transit police officer salary | $38K |
| Bus driver salary | $34K |
| Travel agent salary | $31K |
| Courier salary | $26K |
| Delivery service driver salary | $15K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)