How much does a School Van Operator make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a School Van Operator in the United States is $40,543 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.
However, a School Van Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $48,355
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $37,385 to $44,632
Key Factors That Influence School Van Operator Salaries
A School Van Operator'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 Van Operator Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a School Van Operator'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): $39,680
Early Career (1-2 years): $40,243
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $41,565
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $41,746
Expert (over 8 years): $42,047
Levels
Salary
Entry Level School Van Operator
$39,680
Intermediate Level School Van Operator
$40,243
Senior Level School Van Operator
$41,565
Specialist Level School Van Operator
$41,746
Expert Level School Van Operator
$42,047
$39,6800 yr
$40,243< 2 yrs
$41,5652-4 yrs
$41,7465-8 yrs
$42,047> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do School Van Operator 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 Van Operators.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $44,890.
California: $44,719.
Massachusetts: $44,123.
District of Columbia$44,890
California$44,719
Massachusetts$44,123
Washington$43,961
New Jersey$43,945
Alaska$43,888
Connecticut$43,329
New York$43,102
Hawaii$42,376
Rhode Island$42,035
Maryland$41,804
Minnesota$41,488
Colorado$41,366
Illinois$41,326
Oregon$41,172
Delaware$41,058
New Hampshire$40,987
Virginia$40,827
Pennsylvania$40,361
Nevada$40,126
North Dakota$40,049
Michigan$39,927
Wisconsin$39,882
Vermont$39,793
Texas$39,546
Maine$39,530
Arizona$39,505
Ohio$39,477
Georgia$39,104
Indiana$38,918
Wyoming$38,881
Utah$38,824
Iowa$38,800
Kansas$38,605
Louisiana$38,549
North Carolina$38,528
Missouri$38,520
Florida$38,362
Montana$38,277
Nebraska$38,196
Kentucky$38,151
South Carolina$37,989
Tennessee$37,888
Idaho$37,847
New Mexico$37,551
Oklahoma$37,486
Alabama$37,247
South Dakota$36,846
Arkansas$36,627
West Virginia$36,509
Mississippi$36,157
Top Paying Cities for School Van Operators
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: $51,137
San Francisco: $50,577
Oakland: $49,511
San Jose, CA$51,137
San Francisco, CA$50,577
Oakland, CA$49,511
New York, NY$46,681
Paramus, NJ$46,114
Queens Village, NY$46,112
Passaic, NJ$46,073
Bergenfield, NJ$46,069
Stamford, CT$45,980
Huntington, NY$45,964
Newark, NJ$45,664
Bridgeport, CT$45,578
Vallejo, CA$45,498
New Brunswick, NJ$45,481
Petaluma, CA$45,457
Middlesex, NJ$45,380
Somerset, NJ$45,352
Santa Cruz, CA$45,299
Boston, MA$45,052
Monterey, CA$44,909
Seattle, WA$44,817
Santa Rosa, CA$44,808
Los Angeles, CA$44,796
Juneau, AK$44,691
Washington, DC$44,646
Orange, CA$44,502
Santa Ana, CA$44,395
Long Beach, CA$44,354
Anaheim, CA$44,346
Anchorage, AK$44,326
Santa Maria, CA$44,204
Everett, WA$44,196
Danbury, CT$44,054
Bremerton, WA$43,998
Tacoma, WA$43,852
New Suffolk, NY$43,851
Sacramento, CA$43,839
Santa Barbara, CA$43,795
Trenton, NJ$43,750
San Diego, CA$43,750
Brockton, MA$43,706
Fairbanks, AK$43,606
Lompoc, CA$43,503
Lowell, MA$43,470
Ventura, CA$43,462
Nashua, NH$43,454
Stockton, CA$43,450
Modesto, CA$43,154
Poughkeepsie, NY$43,065
Olympia, WA$42,988
Kennewick, WA$42,988
New Haven, CT$42,972
Lawrence, MA$42,826
Hartford, CT$42,785
Riverside, CA$42,777
New Bedford, MA$42,737
Richland, WA$42,737
Bakersfield, CA$42,680
San Bernardino, CA$42,664
New Britain, CT$42,660
Atlantic City, NJ$42,660
New London, CT$42,643
Norwich, CT$42,631
Portsmouth, NH$42,623
Boulder, CO$42,537
Portland, OR$42,481
Worcester, MA$42,477
Minneapolis, MN$42,352
Philadelphia, PA$42,295
Honolulu, HI$42,161
Saint Paul, MN$42,142
Vineland, NJ$42,133
Providence, RI$42,015
Chicago, IL$41,897
Bellingham, WA$41,849
Springfield, MA$41,816
Baltimore, MD$41,804
Chico, CA$41,703
Pittsfield, MA$41,593
Manchester, NH$41,516
Spokane, WA$41,338
Denver, CO$41,334
Albany, NY$41,143
Troy, NY$41,127
Nassau, NY$41,084
Schenectady, NY$41,042
Wilmington, DE$41,010
Burlington, VT$40,953
Salem, OR$40,937
Portland, ME$40,811
Yakima, WA$40,770
Rochester, MN$40,645
Reno, NV$40,624
Fresno, CA$40,624
Milwaukee, WI$40,588
Detroit, MI$40,547
Ann Arbor, MI$40,540
Allentown, PA$40,535
Colorado Springs, CO$40,466
Syracuse, NY$40,446
Carson City, NV$40,446
Houston, TX$40,389
Eugene, OR$40,369
Gary, IN$40,320
Springfield, OR$40,288
Bismarck, ND$40,280
Galveston, TX$40,251
Medford, OR$40,191
Fort Collins, CO$40,174
Concord, NH$40,154
Austin, TX$40,142
Mesa, AZ$40,057
Reading, PA$40,053
Phoenix, AZ$40,049
Dallas, TX$40,037
Saint Cloud, MN$39,998
Madison, WI$39,943
Utica, NY$39,834
Rochester, NY$39,769
Des Moines, IA$39,765
Raleigh, NC$39,761
Atlanta, GA$39,700
Battle Creek, MI$39,688
Salt Lake City, UT$39,676
Lancaster, PA$39,615
Harrisburg, PA$39,558
Kansas City, MO$39,518
Champaign, IL$39,509
Kansas City, KS$39,509
Fort Worth, TX$39,505
Columbus, OH$39,498
Boca Raton, FL$39,489
Pittsburgh, PA$39,473
Richmond, VA$39,457
Indianapolis, IN$39,449
Cleveland, OH$39,445
Las Vegas, NV$39,396
Cincinnati, OH$39,396
Petersburg, VA$39,335
Huntsville, AL$39,274
Lansing, MI$39,247
Lebanon, PA$39,242
Pueblo, CO$39,238
Appleton, WI$39,226
Buffalo, NY$39,209
Dayton, OH$39,197
Racine, WI$39,189
Charlotte, NC$39,185
Saint Louis, MO$39,173
York, PA$39,149
Elkhart, IN$39,149
Gastonia, NC$39,141
Billings, MT$39,131
Beaumont, TX$39,120
Lorain, OH$39,112
Benton Harbor, MI$39,104
Toledo, OH$39,096
Binghamton, NY$39,076
Rock Hill, SC$39,072
Rockford, IL$39,051
Springfield, IL$39,035
Elyria, OH$39,031
Fargo, ND$39,031
Flagstaff, AZ$39,003
Fort Lauderdale, FL$38,978
Duluth, MN$38,954
Miami, FL$38,954
Cheyenne, WY$38,926
Grand Forks, ND$38,926
Bangor, ME$38,836
Cedar Rapids, IA$38,792
Durham, NC$38,775
Louisville, KY$38,772
Grand Rapids, MI$38,763
Hialeah, FL$38,759
Casper, WY$38,703
Scranton, PA$38,654
New Orleans, LA$38,642
Virginia Beach, VA$38,638
Akron, OH$38,617
Peoria, IL$38,565
Sarasota, FL$38,557
Nashville, TN$38,528
Omaha, NE$38,528
Green Bay, WI$38,528
Baton Rouge, LA$38,508
Charleston, SC$38,500
Jamestown, NY$38,480
Davenport, IA$38,480
Tucson, AZ$38,459
Saint Petersburg, FL$38,435
Tampa, FL$38,427
Evansville, IN$38,403
Port Arthur, TX$38,403
Bradenton, FL$38,386
Santa Fe, NM$38,313
Orlando, FL$38,240
Clearwater, FL$38,228
Canton, OH$38,143
La Crosse, WI$38,143
Albuquerque, NM$38,119
Newport News, VA$38,115
High Point, NC$38,103
Ogden, UT$38,086
Corpus Christi, TX$38,054
Norfolk, VA$38,030
Laramie, WY$38,030
Rock Island, IL$38,005
Saginaw, MI$37,997
Jacksonville, FL$37,993
Salisbury, NC$37,985
Boise, ID$37,977
Moline, IL$37,957
Fort Myers, FL$37,944
Memphis, TN$37,936
Tulsa, OK$37,916
Waterloo, IA$37,892
Spartanburg, SC$37,851
Lincoln, NE$37,831
Fort Wayne, IN$37,823
Provo, UT$37,819
Cedar Falls, IA$37,770
San Antonio, TX$37,754
Greensboro, NC$37,738
South Bend, IN$37,734
Savannah, GA$37,689
Muskegon, MI$37,673
Birmingham, AL$37,669
Winston Salem, NC$37,649
Lake Charles, LA$37,551
Anderson, IN$37,543
Lexington, KY$37,531
Augusta, GA$37,519
Greenville, SC$37,519
Lima, OH$37,486
Wichita, KS$37,482
Tuscaloosa, AL$37,482
Columbia, SC$37,446
Springfield, OH$37,438
Asheville, NC$37,373
Bloomington, IN$37,344
Knoxville, TN$37,198
Shreveport, LA$37,194
Wilmington, NC$37,142
Roanoke, VA$37,142
Topeka, KS$37,069
Frankfort, KY$37,064
Oklahoma City, OK$37,036
Chillicothe, OH$37,020
Longview, TX$37,016
Melbourne, FL$37,012
Sioux Falls, SD$36,947
Mobile, AL$36,943
Terre Haute, IN$36,927
Altoona, PA$36,903
Amarillo, TX$36,874
Killeen, TX$36,862
Fayetteville, AR$36,830
Chattanooga, TN$36,817
Sioux City, IA$36,781
Idaho Falls, ID$36,773
Lynchburg, VA$36,740
Gainesville, FL$36,688
Portsmouth, OH$36,667
Little Rock, AR$36,659
Lafayette, LA$36,643
Youngstown, OH$36,643
Daytona Beach, FL$36,619
Clarksville, TN$36,615
Pensacola, FL$36,611
Temple, TX$36,608
Hopkinsville, KY$36,489
Erie, PA$36,481
Florence, SC$36,465
Charleston, WV$36,400
Great Falls, MT$36,380
Macon, GA$36,323
Tallahassee, FL$36,319
Fayetteville, NC$36,311
Waco, TX$36,302
Helena, MT$36,274
Pine Bluff, AR$36,259
Vincennes, IN$36,209
Lubbock, TX$36,193
Alamogordo, NM$36,169
Twin Falls, ID$36,132
Rapid City, SD$36,120
Jackson, MS$36,047
Huntington, WV$36,044
Greenville, MS$36,043
Parkersburg, WV$36,002
Montgomery, AL$35,994
Wichita Falls, TX$35,954
Springfield, MO$35,954
Biloxi, MS$35,934
Monroe, LA$35,893
Johnstown, PA$35,865
Sumter, SC$35,848
Columbus, GA$35,844
Pascagoula, MS$35,767
Abilene, TX$35,767
Kingsport, TN$35,662
Albany, GA$35,662
Gulfport, MS$35,650
Alexandria, LA$35,516
Fort Smith, AR$35,415
El Paso, TX$35,305
Las Cruces, NM$35,123
Harlingen, TX$35,020
Pocatello, ID$35,013
Florence, AL$34,960
Brownsville, TX$34,952
Mcallen, TX$34,867
Dothan, AL$34,810
Columbus, MS$34,570
Altus, OK$34,381
Lawton, OK$34,304
Pierre, SD$34,158
What Skills Can Increase a School Van Operator'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 Van Operator'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
$43,787
8%
Teamwork
$42,976
6%
Service Quality
$42,570
5%
Interviewing
$42,165
4%
Safety Inspections
$42,165
4%
Verbal Communication
$41,760
3%
Get Latest Data
School Van Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For School Van Operator 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 Van Operator positions in Transportation typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view School Van Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a School Van Operator
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
$44,598
$21.0
10%
How Education impacts a School Van Operator's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many School Van Operators 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 Van Operator with a No Diploma is between
$33,686
and $38,044).
School Van Operator Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for School Van Operator
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 Van Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a School Van Operator'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.
Salaries for a School Van Operator can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $45,909 in 2023
to around $44,307 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of School Van Operator salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of School Van Operator Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$45,909
2024
$45,028
2025
$44,307
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$45,909
2024
$45,028
2025
$44,307
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for School Van Operator
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Common company salaries for School Van Operator
Here are companies hiring for School Van Operator 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
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