Key Factors That Influence School Bus Driver Salaries
A School Bus Driver's salary isn't a fixed number.
It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects School Bus Driver Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a School Bus Driver's salary.
As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases.
Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $38,630
Early Career (1-2 years): $39,177
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $40,465
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $40,640
Expert (over 8 years): $40,933
Levels
Salary
Entry Level School Bus Driver
$38,630
Intermediate Level School Bus Driver
$39,177
Senior Level School Bus Driver
$40,465
Specialist Level School Bus Driver
$40,640
Expert Level School Bus Driver
$40,933
$38,6300 yr
$39,177< 2 yrs
$40,4652-4 yrs
$40,6405-8 yrs
$40,933> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do School Bus Driver Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract School Bus Drivers.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $49,414
San Francisco: $48,873
Oakland: $47,843
San Jose, CA$49,414
San Francisco, CA$48,873
Oakland, CA$47,843
New York, NY$45,108
Paramus, NJ$44,560
Queens Village, NY$44,558
Passaic, NJ$44,520
Bergenfield, NJ$44,517
Stamford, CT$44,431
Huntington, NY$44,415
Newark, NJ$44,125
Bridgeport, CT$44,042
Vallejo, CA$43,964
New Brunswick, NJ$43,949
Petaluma, CA$43,925
Middlesex, NJ$43,851
Somerset, NJ$43,823
Santa Cruz, CA$43,772
Boston, MA$43,533
Monterey, CA$43,396
Seattle, WA$43,306
Santa Rosa, CA$43,298
Los Angeles, CA$43,287
Juneau, AK$43,185
Washington, DC$43,142
Orange, CA$43,002
Santa Ana, CA$42,899
Long Beach, CA$42,860
Anaheim, CA$42,852
Anchorage, AK$42,832
Santa Maria, CA$42,715
Everett, WA$42,707
Danbury, CT$42,569
Bremerton, WA$42,515
Tacoma, WA$42,374
New Suffolk, NY$42,373
Sacramento, CA$42,362
Santa Barbara, CA$42,319
Trenton, NJ$42,276
San Diego, CA$42,276
Brockton, MA$42,233
Fairbanks, AK$42,137
Lompoc, CA$42,037
Lowell, MA$42,005
Ventura, CA$41,998
Nashua, NH$41,990
Stockton, CA$41,986
Modesto, CA$41,700
Poughkeepsie, NY$41,614
Olympia, WA$41,539
Kennewick, WA$41,539
New Haven, CT$41,524
Lawrence, MA$41,383
Hartford, CT$41,343
Riverside, CA$41,336
New Bedford, MA$41,296
Richland, WA$41,296
Bakersfield, CA$41,242
San Bernardino, CA$41,226
New Britain, CT$41,222
Atlantic City, NJ$41,222
New London, CT$41,206
Norwich, CT$41,195
Portsmouth, NH$41,187
Boulder, CO$41,104
Portland, OR$41,050
Worcester, MA$41,046
Minneapolis, MN$40,924
Philadelphia, PA$40,869
Honolulu, HI$40,740
Saint Paul, MN$40,721
Vineland, NJ$40,713
Providence, RI$40,599
Chicago, IL$40,486
Bellingham, WA$40,438
Springfield, MA$40,407
Baltimore, MD$40,395
Chico, CA$40,297
Pittsfield, MA$40,192
Manchester, NH$40,117
Spokane, WA$39,945
Denver, CO$39,941
Albany, NY$39,757
Troy, NY$39,741
Nassau, NY$39,699
Schenectady, NY$39,659
Wilmington, DE$39,628
Burlington, VT$39,573
Salem, OR$39,557
Portland, ME$39,436
Yakima, WA$39,396
Rochester, MN$39,275
Reno, NV$39,255
Fresno, CA$39,255
Milwaukee, WI$39,220
Detroit, MI$39,181
Ann Arbor, MI$39,174
Allentown, PA$39,169
Colorado Springs, CO$39,103
Syracuse, NY$39,083
Carson City, NV$39,083
Houston, TX$39,028
Eugene, OR$39,009
Gary, IN$38,962
Springfield, OR$38,930
Bismarck, ND$38,922
Galveston, TX$38,895
Medford, OR$38,836
Fort Collins, CO$38,820
Concord, NH$38,801
Austin, TX$38,789
Mesa, AZ$38,707
Reading, PA$38,703
Phoenix, AZ$38,699
Dallas, TX$38,687
Saint Cloud, MN$38,650
Madison, WI$38,597
Utica, NY$38,491
Rochester, NY$38,429
Des Moines, IA$38,425
Raleigh, NC$38,421
Atlanta, GA$38,362
Battle Creek, MI$38,350
Salt Lake City, UT$38,339
Lancaster, PA$38,280
Harrisburg, PA$38,225
Kansas City, MO$38,186
Champaign, IL$38,178
Kansas City, KS$38,178
Fort Worth, TX$38,174
Columbus, OH$38,167
Boca Raton, FL$38,158
Pittsburgh, PA$38,143
Richmond, VA$38,127
Indianapolis, IN$38,119
Cleveland, OH$38,115
Las Vegas, NV$38,068
Cincinnati, OH$38,068
Petersburg, VA$38,010
Huntsville, AL$37,951
Lansing, MI$37,925
Lebanon, PA$37,919
Pueblo, CO$37,916
Appleton, WI$37,904
Buffalo, NY$37,888
Dayton, OH$37,876
Racine, WI$37,868
Charlotte, NC$37,865
Saint Louis, MO$37,853
York, PA$37,829
Elkhart, IN$37,829
Gastonia, NC$37,822
Billings, MT$37,812
Beaumont, TX$37,802
Lorain, OH$37,794
Benton Harbor, MI$37,786
Toledo, OH$37,778
Binghamton, NY$37,759
Rock Hill, SC$37,755
Rockford, IL$37,735
Springfield, IL$37,720
Elyria, OH$37,716
Fargo, ND$37,716
Flagstaff, AZ$37,688
Fort Lauderdale, FL$37,665
Duluth, MN$37,641
Miami, FL$37,641
Cheyenne, WY$37,614
Grand Forks, ND$37,614
Bangor, ME$37,528
Cedar Rapids, IA$37,485
Durham, NC$37,468
Louisville, KY$37,465
Grand Rapids, MI$37,457
Hialeah, FL$37,453
Casper, WY$37,398
Scranton, PA$37,351
New Orleans, LA$37,340
Virginia Beach, VA$37,336
Akron, OH$37,316
Peoria, IL$37,265
Sarasota, FL$37,257
Nashville, TN$37,230
Omaha, NE$37,230
Green Bay, WI$37,230
Baton Rouge, LA$37,210
Charleston, SC$37,202
Jamestown, NY$37,183
Davenport, IA$37,183
Tucson, AZ$37,163
Saint Petersburg, FL$37,140
Tampa, FL$37,132
Evansville, IN$37,108
Port Arthur, TX$37,108
Bradenton, FL$37,093
Santa Fe, NM$37,022
Orlando, FL$36,952
Clearwater, FL$36,940
Canton, OH$36,858
La Crosse, WI$36,858
Albuquerque, NM$36,834
Newport News, VA$36,830
High Point, NC$36,819
Ogden, UT$36,803
Corpus Christi, TX$36,772
Norfolk, VA$36,748
Laramie, WY$36,748
Rock Island, IL$36,725
Saginaw, MI$36,717
Jacksonville, FL$36,713
Salisbury, NC$36,705
Boise, ID$36,697
Moline, IL$36,678
Fort Myers, FL$36,666
Memphis, TN$36,658
Tulsa, OK$36,638
Waterloo, IA$36,615
Spartanburg, SC$36,576
Lincoln, NE$36,556
Fort Wayne, IN$36,548
Provo, UT$36,544
Cedar Falls, IA$36,497
San Antonio, TX$36,482
Greensboro, NC$36,466
South Bend, IN$36,462
Savannah, GA$36,419
Muskegon, MI$36,403
Birmingham, AL$36,399
Winston Salem, NC$36,380
Lake Charles, LA$36,286
Anderson, IN$36,278
Lexington, KY$36,266
Augusta, GA$36,254
Greenville, SC$36,254
Lima, OH$36,223
Wichita, KS$36,219
Tuscaloosa, AL$36,219
Columbia, SC$36,184
Springfield, OH$36,176
Asheville, NC$36,113
Bloomington, IN$36,086
Knoxville, TN$35,945
Shreveport, LA$35,941
Wilmington, NC$35,890
Roanoke, VA$35,890
Topeka, KS$35,820
Frankfort, KY$35,815
Oklahoma City, OK$35,788
Chillicothe, OH$35,773
Longview, TX$35,769
Melbourne, FL$35,765
Sioux Falls, SD$35,702
Mobile, AL$35,698
Terre Haute, IN$35,682
Altoona, PA$35,659
Amarillo, TX$35,631
Killeen, TX$35,620
Fayetteville, AR$35,588
Chattanooga, TN$35,577
Sioux City, IA$35,541
Idaho Falls, ID$35,534
Lynchburg, VA$35,502
Gainesville, FL$35,451
Portsmouth, OH$35,432
Little Rock, AR$35,424
Lafayette, LA$35,408
Youngstown, OH$35,408
Daytona Beach, FL$35,385
Clarksville, TN$35,381
Pensacola, FL$35,377
Temple, TX$35,374
Hopkinsville, KY$35,259
Erie, PA$35,251
Florence, SC$35,236
Charleston, WV$35,173
Great Falls, MT$35,154
Macon, GA$35,099
Tallahassee, FL$35,095
Fayetteville, NC$35,087
Waco, TX$35,079
Helena, MT$35,052
Pine Bluff, AR$35,037
Vincennes, IN$34,989
Lubbock, TX$34,973
Alamogordo, NM$34,950
Twin Falls, ID$34,915
Rapid City, SD$34,903
Jackson, MS$34,832
Huntington, WV$34,830
Greenville, MS$34,828
Parkersburg, WV$34,788
Montgomery, AL$34,781
Wichita Falls, TX$34,742
Springfield, MO$34,742
Biloxi, MS$34,723
Monroe, LA$34,683
Johnstown, PA$34,656
Sumter, SC$34,640
Columbus, GA$34,636
Pascagoula, MS$34,562
Abilene, TX$34,562
Kingsport, TN$34,460
Albany, GA$34,460
Gulfport, MS$34,448
Alexandria, LA$34,319
Fort Smith, AR$34,221
El Paso, TX$34,115
Las Cruces, NM$33,939
Harlingen, TX$33,840
Pocatello, ID$33,833
Florence, AL$33,782
Brownsville, TX$33,774
Mcallen, TX$33,692
Dothan, AL$33,637
Columbus, MS$33,405
Altus, OK$33,222
Lawton, OK$33,148
Pierre, SD$33,007
What Skills Can Increase a School Bus Driver's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Commitment (Mentioned in 13.93% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
Service Quality (Mentioned in 2.6% Job Postings): Service quality is a measure of how an organization delivers its services compared to the expectations of its customers.
Beacon (Mentioned in 1.52% Job Postings): A beacon sets an organization's vision and direction through an understanding of the contextual landscape. The "leader as coach" inspires and motivates teams to deliver on that vision or mission. The "leader as innovator" explores new potential services or avenues of growth.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Commitment
13.93%
Service Quality
2.6%
Beacon
1.52%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a School Bus Driver's salary.
Special Education: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Teamwork: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Service Quality: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Special Education
$42,311
8%
Teamwork
$41,528
6%
Service Quality
$41,136
5%
Interviewing
$40,744
4%
Safety Inspections
$40,744
4%
Verbal Communication
$40,352
3%
Get Latest Data
School Bus Driver Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
School Bus Driver salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $42,102.
While startup companies pay approximate $35,764.
School Bus Driver Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$35,764
Growth Stage
51~500
$37,780
Established
501~5000
$40,705
Enterprise
5000+
$42,102
School Bus Driver Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For School Bus Driver roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential
by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit,
offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely,
School Bus Driver positions in Transportation typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view School Bus Driver as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a School Bus Driver
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
$43,095
$21.0
10%
How Education impacts a School Bus Driver's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many School Bus Drivers enter the field with a No Diploma degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a School Bus Driver with a No Diploma is between
$33,686
and $38,044).
School Bus Driver Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for School Bus Driver
No Diploma8.0%
High School66.7%
Associates12.3%
Bachelors12.3%
Masters0.7%
Doctorate0.0%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
8.0%
High School
66.7%
Associates
12.3%
Bachelors
12.3%
Masters
0.7%
Doctorate
0.0%
view as graph
School Bus Driver Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a School Bus Driver's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$36,121
Average$39,177/year
$43,099
$3,010
Average$3,265/month
$3,592
$695
Average$753/week
$829
$17
Average$19/hour
$21
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$43,099
$3,592
$829
$21
Average
$39,177
$3,265
$753
$19
25th Percentile
$36,121
$3,010
$695
$17
School Bus Driver Salary Growth & Career Path
Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings.
As a School Bus Driver, you have the following paths for advancement.
The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles.
By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.
Salaries for a School Bus Driver can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $44,693 in 2023
to around $43,134 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of School Bus Driver salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of School Bus Driver Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$44,693
2024
$43,835
2025
$43,134
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$44,693
2024
$43,835
2025
$43,134
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for School Bus Driver
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for School Bus Driver
Here are companies hiring for School Bus Driver and their salaries, click below for more details.
N
$97,099/per year
New York Police Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$95,962/per year
State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$94,615/per year
US Department of Transportation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$93,141/per year
US General Services Administration
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$92,342/per year
Los Angeles County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
D
$92,011/per year
Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,967/per year
US Department of Commerce
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,755/per year
US Department of Energy
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
F
$91,673/per year
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$90,276/per year
Naval Sea Systems Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,975/per year
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$88,721/per year
San Diego County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,664/per year
The TTB
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$87,569/per year
Lutheran Services
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
M
$85,066/per year
Maryland Inc
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$83,780/per year
State University of New York
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$82,969/per year
New York State
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
P
$82,703/per year
Puerto Rico Department of Education
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$80,526/per year
US Central Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
H
$80,286/per year
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$79,270/per year
Air Force Reserve
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$78,505/per year
American Automobile Association (AAA)
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$76,678/per year
State of Florida - Department of Health
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$75,183/per year
New York State Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$75,106/per year
State University System of Florida
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
Find Your Next School Bus Driver Job
Ready to take the next step in your career?
Browse thousands of current School Bus Driver job openings on our job board.
Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
For Employees
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
For Employers
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
FAQ about School Bus Driver
1. Where can a School Bus Driver earn the most?
A School Bus Driver's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer.
According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a School Bus Driver earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a School Bus Driver is $49,414.
2. What is the highest pay for School Bus Driver?
The highest pay for School Bus Driver is $46,670.
3. What is the lowest pay for School Bus Driver?
The lowest pay for School Bus Driver is $33,339.
4. What are the responsibilities of School Bus Driver?
Drives a bus intended for school activities. Transports students to and from school and designated locations. May require a high school diploma or its equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor. Requires a valid driver's license. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. Works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. May require 0-1 year of general work experience.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for School Bus Driver?
The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for School Bus Driver roles,
with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
AI-Powered Talent
