Bus Operator Salary in Washington

How much does a Bus Operator make in Washington?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Bus Operator in Washington is $54,328 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $62,513
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $48,344 to $58,612
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $42,895

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Bus Operator Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$58,612	$4,884	$1,127	$28
Average	$54,328	$4,527	$1,045	$26
25th Percentile	$48,344	$4,029	$930	$23

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Key Factors That Influence Bus Operator Salaries

A Bus 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Bus 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 Bus Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $55,475.
California: $55,265.
Massachusetts: $54,528.

District of Columbia $55,475 California $55,265 Massachusetts $54,528 Washington $54,328 New Jersey $54,308 Alaska $54,238 Connecticut $53,546 New York $53,266

Hawaii $52,369 Rhode Island $51,948 Maryland $51,662 Minnesota $51,272 Colorado $51,121 Illinois $51,071 Oregon $50,881 Delaware $50,740

New Hampshire $50,652 Virginia $50,455 Pennsylvania $49,879 Nevada $49,588 North Dakota $49,493 Michigan $49,343 Wisconsin $49,287 Vermont $49,177

Texas $48,872 Maine $48,851 Arizona $48,821 Ohio $48,786 Georgia $48,325 Indiana $48,095 Wyoming $48,050 Utah $47,980

Iowa $47,950 Kansas $47,709 Louisiana $47,639 North Carolina $47,614 Missouri $47,604 Florida $47,408 Montana $47,303 Nebraska $47,203

Kentucky $47,148 South Carolina $46,948 Tennessee $46,822 Idaho $46,772 New Mexico $46,406 Oklahoma $46,326 Alabama $46,031 South Dakota $45,535

Arkansas $45,264 West Virginia $45,119 Mississippi $44,683

Top Paying Cities for Bus 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:

Auburn: $54,261
Federal Way: $54,238
Bellevue: $55,353

Auburn, WA $54,261 Federal Way, WA $54,238 Bellevue, WA $55,353 Black Diamond, WA $53,971 Bothell, WA $55,090 Burton, WA $54,337 Carnation, WA $54,276 Duvall, WA $54,455

Edmonds, WA $54,917 Enumclaw, WA $53,182 Fall City, WA $54,519 Hobart, WA $54,309 Issaquah, WA $54,708 Kenmore, WA $55,205 Kent, WA $54,309 Kirkland, WA $55,317

Lynnwood, WA $54,805 Maple Valley, WA $54,262 Medina, WA $55,368 Mercer Island, WA $55,349 Mountlake Terrace, WA $54,953 North Bend, WA $53,734 Pacific, WA $54,230 Preston, WA $54,604

Ravensdale, WA $53,827 Redmond, WA $55,238 Redondo, WA $54,299 Renton, WA $54,895 Rollingbay, WA $54,697 Seahurst, WA $54,996 Snoqualmie, WA $54,141 Snoqualmie Pass, WA $52,542

Vashon, WA $54,376 Woodinville, WA $54,904 Sammamish, WA $55,049 Mill Creek, WA $54,564 Seattle, WA $55,385 Bainbridge Island, WA $54,776 Everett, WA $54,618 Acme, WA $51,785

Anacortes, WA $52,273 Blakely Island, WA $51,915 Arlington, WA $53,852 Baring, WA $53,433 Bellingham, WA $51,717 Blaine, WA $51,610 Bow, WA $51,839 Burlington, WA $52,128

Clearlake, WA $52,421 Clinton, WA $54,460 Concrete, WA $51,863 Conway, WA $53,225 Coupeville, WA $53,488 Custer, WA $51,670 Darrington, WA $51,886 Deer Harbor, WA $51,945

Deming, WA $51,769 Eastsound, WA $51,744 Everson, WA $51,680 Ferndale, WA $51,694 Freeland, WA $54,167 Friday Harbor, WA $52,042 Gold Bar, WA $53,546 Granite Falls, WA $53,780

Greenbank, WA $53,997 Hamilton, WA $52,308 Index, WA $52,744 La Conner, WA $52,537 Lake Stevens, WA $54,610 North Lakewood, WA $54,257 Langley, WA $54,335 Lopez Island, WA $52,155

Lummi Island, WA $51,723 Lyman, WA $52,289 Lynden, WA $51,672 Maple Falls, WA $51,654 Marblemount, WA $51,762 Marysville, WA $54,620 Monroe, WA $54,170 Mount Vernon, WA $52,631

Mukilteo, WA $54,594 Nooksack, WA $51,673 Oak Harbor, WA $52,895 Olga, WA $51,812 Orcas, WA $51,905 Point Roberts, WA $51,501 Camano Island, WA $53,746 Rockport, WA $51,068

Sedro Woolley, WA $52,155 Shaw Island, WA $51,994 Silvana, WA $54,167 Skykomish, WA $52,490 Snohomish, WA $54,426 Stanwood, WA $53,965 Startup, WA $53,846 Sultan, WA $53,887

Sumas, WA $51,655 Waldron, WA $51,743 Anderson Island, WA $53,824 Ashford, WA $52,814 Beaver, WA $51,368 Bremerton, WA $54,373 Silverdale, WA $54,282 Brinnon, WA $53,702

Buckley, WA $53,889 Burley, WA $54,189 Carbonado, WA $53,422 Carlsborg, WA $52,471 Chimacum, WA $53,687 Clallam Bay, WA $51,376 Dupont, WA $53,724 Eatonville, WA $53,281

Gig Harbor, WA $54,009 Elbe, WA $52,975 Forks, WA $51,460 Fox Island, WA $54,154 Glenoma, WA $52,215 Graham, WA $53,873 Port Hadlock, WA $53,672 Hansville, WA $54,169

Indianola, WA $54,900 Joyce, WA $51,573 Kapowsin, WA $53,681 Keyport, WA $54,462 Kingston, WA $54,570 La Grande, WA $53,207 Lakebay, WA $53,878 La Push, WA $51,558

Longbranch, WA $53,651 Sumner, WA $54,124 Manchester, WA $54,811 Milton, WA $54,207 Mineral, WA $52,437 Morton, WA $52,277 Neah Bay, WA $51,435 Nordland, WA $53,794

Olalla, WA $54,252 Orting, WA $53,805 Packwood, WA $51,276 Port Angeles, WA $52,469 Port Gamble, WA $54,349 Port Ludlow, WA $54,043 Port Orchard, WA $54,406 Port Townsend, WA $53,460

Poulsbo, WA $54,482 Puyallup, WA $54,205 Quilcene, WA $53,818 Randle, WA $51,704 Retsil, WA $54,382 Seabeck, WA $54,152 Sekiu, WA $51,377 Sequim, WA $52,868

South Colby, WA $54,570 South Prairie, WA $53,899 Southworth, WA $54,795 Spanaway, WA $53,998 Steilacoom, WA $53,996 Bonney Lake, WA $54,053 Suquamish, WA $54,728 Tracyton, WA $54,396

Vaughn, WA $53,873 Wauna, WA $54,107 Wilkeson, WA $53,714 Longmire, WA $52,249 Paradise Inn, WA $52,207 Tacoma, WA $54,193 Camp Murray, WA $54,046 Mcchord Afb, WA $54,189

Lakewood, WA $54,183 University Place, WA $54,192 Olympia, WA $53,125 Lacey, WA $53,246 Tumwater, WA $53,147 Aberdeen, WA $52,281 Adna, WA $52,468 Allyn, WA $53,814

Amanda Park, WA $51,698 Bay Center, WA $51,748 Belfair, WA $53,923 Bucoda, WA $53,129 Centralia, WA $53,046 Chehalis, WA $52,794 Cinebar, WA $52,715 Copalis Beach, WA $51,808

Copalis Crossing, WA $51,718 Cosmopolis, WA $52,573 Curtis, WA $52,080 Doty, WA $52,615 East Olympia, WA $53,219 Elma, WA $53,079 Ethel, WA $52,317 Galvin, WA $53,015

Grapeview, WA $53,594 Grayland, WA $51,789 Hoodsport, WA $53,426 Hoquiam, WA $52,117 Humptulips, WA $51,900 Lebam, WA $52,035 Lilliwaup, WA $53,691 Littlerock, WA $53,128

Mccleary, WA $53,139 Mckenna, WA $53,371 Malone, WA $53,073 Matlock, WA $53,096 Menlo, WA $52,063 Moclips, WA $51,724 Montesano, WA $52,881 Mossyrock, WA $51,909

Napavine, WA $52,658 Neilton, WA $51,854 Oakville, WA $53,023 Ocean Shores, WA $51,877 Onalaska, WA $52,722 Pacific Beach, WA $51,727 Pe Ell, WA $52,191 Quinault, WA $51,994

Rainier, WA $53,218 Raymond, WA $52,127 Rochester, WA $53,041 Roy, WA $53,643 Ryderwood, WA $51,838 Salkum, WA $52,283 Satsop, WA $52,977 Shelton, WA $53,306

Silver Creek, WA $52,265 South Bend, WA $51,724 Taholah, WA $51,664 Tahuya, WA $53,603 Tenino, WA $53,168 Tokeland, WA $51,838 Toledo, WA $52,061 Union, WA $53,454

Vader, WA $52,023 Westport, WA $51,896 Winlock, WA $52,259 Yelm, WA $53,189 Amboy, WA $52,084 Appleton, WA $51,096 Ariel, WA $51,947 Battle Ground, WA $52,232

Bingen, WA $51,539 Brush Prairie, WA $52,297 Camas, WA $52,293 Carrolls, WA $51,862 Carson, WA $51,935 Castle Rock, WA $51,905 Cathlamet, WA $51,728 Centerville, WA $50,918

Chinook, WA $51,331 Cougar, WA $51,713 Dallesport, WA $51,026 Glenwood, WA $51,061 Goldendale, WA $50,901 Grays River, WA $51,670 Heisson, WA $52,201 Husum, WA $51,420

Ilwaco, WA $51,361 Kalama, WA $51,884 Kelso, WA $51,976 Klickitat, WA $51,027 La Center, WA $52,188 Long Beach, WA $51,461 Longview, WA $51,946 Lyle, WA $51,051

Nahcotta, WA $51,452 Naselle, WA $51,506 North Bonneville, WA $51,876 Ocean Park, WA $51,730 Oysterville, WA $51,568 Ridgefield, WA $52,245 Rosburg, WA $51,443 Seaview, WA $51,435

Silverlake, WA $51,925 Skamokawa, WA $51,583 Stevenson, WA $51,856 Toutle, WA $51,788 Trout Lake, WA $51,308 Underwood, WA $51,510 Vancouver, WA $52,446 Wahkiacus, WA $50,964

Washougal, WA $52,185 White Salmon, WA $51,365 Wishram, WA $50,905 Woodland, WA $52,065 Yacolt, WA $52,113 Wenatchee, WA $50,933 East Wenatchee, WA $50,866 Ardenvoir, WA $50,918

Brewster, WA $50,767 Bridgeport, WA $50,706 Carlton, WA $50,783 Cashmere, WA $50,921 Chelan, WA $50,834 Chelan Falls, WA $50,860 Conconully, WA $50,740 Dryden, WA $50,998

Entiat, WA $50,855 Ephrata, WA $50,668 George, WA $50,939 Leavenworth, WA $51,245 Loomis, WA $50,741 Malaga, WA $50,942 Malott, WA $50,757 Mansfield, WA $50,542

Manson, WA $50,847 Marlin, WA $50,440 Mazama, WA $50,794 Methow, WA $50,728 Monitor, WA $50,908 Moses Lake, WA $50,683 Okanogan, WA $50,707 Omak, WA $50,753

Orondo, WA $50,784 Oroville, WA $50,815 Palisades, WA $50,632 Pateros, WA $50,747 Peshastin, WA $50,887 Quincy, WA $50,850 Riverside, WA $50,741 Rock Island, WA $50,758

Soap Lake, WA $50,592 Stehekin, WA $50,807 Stratford, WA $50,465 Tonasket, WA $50,769 Twisp, WA $50,817 Warden, WA $50,875 Waterville, WA $50,643 Wauconda, WA $50,709

Wilson Creek, WA $50,415 Winthrop, WA $50,834 Yakima, WA $50,385 Brownstown, WA $50,385 Buena, WA $50,534 Cle Elum, WA $51,224 Cowiche, WA $50,385 Easton, WA $52,037

Ellensburg, WA $50,437 Naches, WA $51,203 Grandview, WA $51,735 Granger, WA $51,150 Harrah, WA $50,385 Kittitas, WA $50,429 Mabton, WA $51,217 Moxee, WA $50,547

Outlook, WA $51,147 Parker, WA $50,400 Ronald, WA $51,495 Roslyn, WA $51,434 Selah, WA $50,385 South Cle Elum, WA $51,457 Sunnyside, WA $51,953 Thorp, WA $50,606

Tieton, WA $50,385 Toppenish, WA $51,032 Vantage, WA $50,914 Wapato, WA $50,421 White Swan, WA $50,510 Zillah, WA $50,608 Airway Heights, WA $51,086 Chattaroy, WA $51,023

Cheney, WA $51,017 Colbert, WA $51,064 Deer Park, WA $51,011 Edwall, WA $50,952 Elk, WA $50,915 Fairchild Air Force Base, WA $51,079 Fairfield, WA $50,966 Ford, WA $50,975

Four Lakes, WA $51,080 Greenacres, WA $51,048 Lamont, WA $50,851 Latah, WA $50,887 Liberty Lake, WA $51,021 Marshall, WA $51,086 Mead, WA $51,027 Medical Lake, WA $51,055

Mica, WA $51,049 Newman Lake, WA $50,992 Nine Mile Falls, WA $51,059 Otis Orchards, WA $51,042 Reardan, WA $51,014 Rockford, WA $51,005 Spangle, WA $51,027 Sprague, WA $50,861

Tekoa, WA $50,811 Tumtum, WA $50,995 Valleyford, WA $51,066 Veradale, WA $51,077 Waverly, WA $50,949 Wellpinit, WA $50,914 Addy, WA $50,843 Albion, WA $50,777

Almira, WA $50,456 Belmont, WA $50,728 Benge, WA $50,696 Boyds, WA $50,719 Chewelah, WA $50,885 Clayton, WA $50,978 Colfax, WA $50,771 Colton, WA $50,438

Colville, WA $50,780 Coulee City, WA $50,491 Coulee Dam, WA $50,641 Creston, WA $50,646 Curlew, WA $50,743 Cusick, WA $50,569 Danville, WA $50,729 Davenport, WA $50,851

Electric City, WA $50,627 Elmer City, WA $50,759 Endicott, WA $50,799 Evans, WA $50,784 Farmington, WA $50,661 Fruitland, WA $50,833 Garfield, WA $50,704 Gifford, WA $50,793

Grand Coulee, WA $50,596 Harrington, WA $50,800 Hartline, WA $50,419 Hay, WA $50,643 Hunters, WA $50,801 Inchelium, WA $50,679 Ione, WA $50,423 Keller, WA $50,582

Kettle Falls, WA $50,752 Lacrosse, WA $50,696 Lamona, WA $50,630 Laurier, WA $50,716 Lincoln, WA $50,796 Loon Lake, WA $50,934 Malden, WA $50,937 Malo, WA $50,775

Marcus, WA $50,937 Metaline, WA $50,648 Metaline Falls, WA $50,355 Mohler, WA $50,759 Nespelem, WA $50,645 Newport, WA $50,727 Northport, WA $50,786 Oakesdale, WA $50,830

Odessa, WA $50,528 Orient, WA $50,703 Palouse, WA $50,621 Pullman, WA $50,591 Republic, WA $50,720 Rice, WA $50,769 Ritzville, WA $50,738 Rosalia, WA $50,953

Saint John, WA $50,845 Springdale, WA $50,913 Steptoe, WA $51,082 Thornton, WA $50,855 Uniontown, WA $50,390 Usk, WA $50,677 Valley, WA $50,891 Wilbur, WA $50,609

Spokane, WA $51,086 Pasco, WA $52,629 Benton City, WA $52,621 Beverly, WA $51,072 Bickleton, WA $50,934 Burbank, WA $52,816 College Place, WA $51,738 Connell, WA $51,577

Dayton, WA $50,724 Dixie, WA $51,203 Eltopia, WA $52,339 Hooper, WA $50,586 Kahlotus, WA $51,011 Kennewick, WA $53,125 Lind, WA $50,744 Mesa, WA $52,189

Othello, WA $51,327 Paterson, WA $52,015 Plymouth, WA $52,862 Pomeroy, WA $50,719 Prescott, WA $51,500 Mattawa, WA $51,454 Prosser, WA $52,108 Richland, WA $52,815

West Richland, WA $52,815 Roosevelt, WA $50,686 Royal City, WA $51,020 Starbuck, WA $50,867 Touchet, WA $52,281 Waitsburg, WA $51,053 Walla Walla, WA $51,512 Wallula, WA $52,688

Washtucna, WA $50,660 Anatone, WA $50,299 Asotin, WA $50,450 Clarkston, WA $50,568

Bus Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Bus Operator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 48% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 28% above the average. In contrast, Bus Operator positions in Financial Services or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Bus Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Bus Operator

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals	$69,540	$33.0	28%
Internet	$67,910	$33.0	25%
Energy & Utilities	$62,477	$30.0	15%
Aerospace & Defense	$60,847	$29.0	12%
Insurance	$59,761	$29.0	10%

Bus Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Bus 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.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

$48,344

Average $54,328/year

$58,612

$4,029

Average $4,527/month

$4,884

$930

Average $1,045/week

$1,127

$23

Average $26/hour

$28

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$58,612	$4,884	$1,127	$28
Average	$54,328	$4,527	$1,045	$26
25th Percentile	$48,344	$4,029	$930	$23

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