Salary AI Book a Demo

School Bus Assistant Salary in the United States

How much does a School Bus Assistant make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a School Bus Assistant in the United States is $39,966 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

However, a School Bus Assistant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $47,666
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $36,853 to $43,997
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $34,019
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence School Bus Assistant Salaries

A School Bus Assistant'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 Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a School Bus Assistant'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): $39,116
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $39,670
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $40,974
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $41,151
  • Expert (over 8 years): $41,448
Levels Salary
Entry Level School Bus Assistant$39,116
Intermediate Level School Bus Assistant$39,670
Senior Level School Bus Assistant$40,974
Specialist Level School Bus Assistant$41,151
Expert Level School Bus Assistant$41,448
View as Graph

How Do School Bus Assistant 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 Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $44,250.
  • California: $44,082.
  • Massachusetts: $43,495.

Top Paying Cities for School Bus Assistants

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: $50,409
  • San Francisco: $49,857
  • Oakland: $48,806

What Skills Can Increase a School Bus Assistant'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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 13.93%
Service Quality 2.6%
Beacon 1.52%
See More Skills

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 Assistant'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 $43,163
8%
Teamwork $42,364
6%
Service Quality $41,964
5%
Get Latest Data

School Bus Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For School Bus Assistant 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 Assistant positions in Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view School Bus Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a School Bus Assistant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$43,963$21.010%

How Education impacts a School Bus Assistant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many School Bus Assistants 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 Assistant with a No Diploma is between $33,686 and $38,044).

School Bus Assistant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for School Bus Assistant
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 Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a School Bus Assistant'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.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$36,853
Average $39,966/year
$43,997
$3,071
Average $3,331/month
$3,666
$709
Average $769/week
$846
$18
Average $19/hour
$21
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $43,997 $3,666 $846 $21
Average $39,966 $3,331 $769 $19
25th Percentile $36,853 $3,071 $709 $18

Most common benefits for School Bus Assistant

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for School Bus Assistant

Here are companies hiring for School Bus Assistant and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next School Bus Assistant Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current School Bus Assistant job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about School Bus Assistant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for School Bus Assistant?

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for School Bus Assistant 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.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst