Who Earns What

How much does a bus driver make?

US Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
$59,050

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 know
This job$59,050
Typical worker$50,980
Elementary teacher$63,970
Doctor$244,180
Cashier$32,880

If 100 people had this job

Most earn between $40,030 and $84,700
48 of 100
not many

How 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
Whole US$59,050
New York$84,480
Washington$72,280
Hawaii$68,500
California$67,130
Oregon$65,510
West Virginia$39,260
Alabama$37,700
Arkansas$37,520

Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.

Jobs like this

Kids' questions

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Who earns more?

In Japan, a bus driver averages $30,206. Bus driver salary in Japan

Data table and sources
Bus driver pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread) — Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lower earner (10th from bottom)Typical person (median)Higher earner (10th from top)People in this job
$40,030$59,050$84,700about 159,000
States where bus drivers earn the most (median, May 2025)
StateTypical person (median)People in this job
New York$84,480about 17,000
Washington$72,280about 7,000
Hawaii$68,500about 2,000
California$67,130about 24,000
Oregon$65,510about 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

Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY