How much does a bus driver make?
a year · about $28 an hour
A typical bus driver in the United States makes $59,050 a year, about $28 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
A city bus driver checks the bus, then follows a timed route, stopping often to pick up and drop off riders. They collect fares, help passengers board, answer route questions, and radio dispatch about traffic or delays.
Did you know? At Intercity Transit, a driver can make the bus “kneel”—lowering the front door toward the curb so boarding is easier.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $40,030 and $84,700How do you become one?
Finish high school; meet your state's age and driving-record rules—often 18 locally and 21 for interstate routes. Earn a CDL with a passenger endorsement, complete training, and pass the knowledge and road tests; some employers train new drivers.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, bus drivers need a CDL and passenger endorsement; experience, extra credentials, and skills can affect pay. Pay also differs by employer and location, and part-time hours or early, late, and weekend schedules can change total earnings.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in New York ($84,480), lowest in Arkansas ($37,520).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Kids' questions
In Japan, a bus driver averages $30,206. Bus driver salary in Japan
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,030 | $59,050 | $84,700 | about 159,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $84,480 | about 17,000 |
| Washington | $72,280 | about 7,000 |
| Hawaii | $68,500 | about 2,000 |
| California | $67,130 | about 24,000 |
| Oregon | $65,510 | about 3,000 |
Official definition: Drive bus or motor coach, including regular route operations, charters, and private carriage. May assist passengers with baggage. May collect fares or tickets.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/bus-drivers.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license/how-do-i-get-commercia
- www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license/entry-level-driver-tra
- www.intercitytransit.com/bus/accessible-services
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY