Bus Drivers, School pay in the United States
Goes furthest in Massachusetts
·Transportation and Material Moving·403k jobs
Figures from US Bureau of Labor StatisticsOccupational Employment and Wage Statistics
$23.04/hr median
402,930 employed
+1% to 2035
41% AI exposure
High school diploma or equivalent
54 states reported
and more...
What this work is
Drive a school bus to transport students. Ensure adherence to safety rules. May assist students in boarding or exiting.
Where the money actually goes furthest
Massachusetts pays the most both before and after cost of living — $65,170, worth $61,620 once local prices are counted.
Pay by state
54 states and territories publish a median for this occupation. Switch the ranking to see how much the order changes.
Adjusted for what things cost in that state.
| State | Hourly | Annual | Worth locally | After state tax | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $31.33/hr | $65,170 | $61,620 | $61,911 | 9,330 |
| Connecticut | $29.58/hr | $61,520 | $59,376 | $58,886 | 7,970 |
| Washington | $30.47/hr | $63,370 | $59,218 | $63,370 | 9,660 |
| Vermont | $27.20/hr | $56,580 | $57,758 | $54,783 | 860 |
| Rhode Island | $28.22/hr | $58,700 | $57,391 | $56,894 | 1,800 |
| North Dakota | $24.42/hr | $50,790 | $57,093 | $50,790 | 1,530 |
| California | $29.35/hr | $61,040 | $55,130 | $59,132 | 16,600 |
| New Jersey | $28.57/hr | $59,430 | $54,618 | $57,638 | 13,670 |
| Maryland | $27.14/hr | $56,450 | $53,782 | $53,949 | 9,020 |
| Hawaii | $28.41/hr | $59,090 | $53,742 | $56,042 | 630 |
| Utah | $25.43/hr | $52,890 | $53,499 | $50,483 | 1,920 |
| Nebraska | $22.96/hr | $47,760 | $53,007 | $46,186 | 2,330 |
| Alaska | $26.06/hr | $54,200 | $52,950 | $54,200 | 790 |
| Iowa | $22.27/hr | $46,320 | $52,780 | $45,114 | 4,840 |
| New York | $27.23/hr | $56,640 | $52,483 | $54,129 | 38,320 |
| Arkansas | $21.87/hr | $45,500 | $52,334 | $43,902 | 4,340 |
| Missouri | $22.54/hr | $46,880 | $51,618 | $45,533 | 8,970 |
| Indiana | $23.09/hr | $48,020 | $51,451 | $46,609 | 11,780 |
| Colorado | $25.30/hr | $52,620 | $51,062 | $51,004 | 3,840 |
| Kansas | $22.05/hr | $45,860 | $50,915 | $43,589 | 4,830 |
| Wisconsin | $22.96/hr | $47,760 | $50,754 | $46,326 | 7,840 |
| District of Columbia | $26.66/hr | $55,450 | $50,454 | $53,194 | 510 |
| Maine | $23.38/hr | $48,640 | $50,118 | $46,596 | 1,670 |
| Kentucky | $21.55/hr | $44,830 | $49,722 | $43,163 | 6,820 |
| Virginia | $24.13/hr | $50,190 | $49,643 | $48,050 | 12,930 |
| Minnesota | $23.53/hr | $48,940 | $49,624 | $47,075 | 13,110 |
| Oregon | $24.65/hr | $51,270 | $49,603 | $47,325 | 5,210 |
| Ohio | $22.05/hr | $45,860 | $49,434 | $45,315 | 5,540 |
| New Mexico | $21.86/hr | $45,470 | $49,311 | $44,349 | 1,870 |
| Illinois | $23.60/hr | $49,090 | $49,109 | $46,797 | 21,230 |
| Wyoming | $21.89/hr | $45,520 | $49,109 | $45,520 | 1,360 |
| New Hampshire | $24.52/hr | $50,990 | $48,948 | $50,990 | 2,040 |
| Montana | $22.22/hr | $46,220 | $48,832 | $44,607 | 1,630 |
| Pennsylvania | $22.85/hr | $47,530 | $48,713 | $46,070 | 23,670 |
| Tennessee | $21.40/hr | $44,510 | $48,448 | $44,510 | 7,050 |
| Idaho | $22.24/hr | $46,250 | $48,434 | $44,572 | 2,960 |
| Michigan | $22.30/hr | $46,380 | $48,202 | $44,646 | 8,780 |
| Georgia | $21.61/hr | $44,950 | $46,681 | $43,239 | 16,880 |
| Texas | $21.39/hr | $44,490 | $45,837 | $44,490 | 37,550 |
| Arizona | $22.14/hr | $46,050 | $45,738 | $45,263 | 5,020 |
| South Dakota | $19.10/hr | $39,730 | $44,847 | $39,730 | 1,290 |
| Florida | $21.48/hr | $44,690 | $43,216 | $44,690 | 13,470 |
| South Carolina | $19.18/hr | $39,900 | $42,560 | $39,008 | 5,900 |
| Delaware | $20.38/hr | $42,390 | $42,470 | $40,604 | 1,350 |
| Oklahoma | $17.75/hr | $36,920 | $42,030 | $35,656 | 3,710 |
| North Carolina | $18.01/hr | $37,460 | $39,711 | $36,409 | 12,390 |
| Nevada | $17.93/hr | $37,280 | $37,287 | $37,280 | 2,590 |
| West Virginia | $16.04/hr | $33,360 | $37,273 | $32,415 | 4,690 |
| Mississippi | $14.73/hr | $30,640 | $35,238 | $29,393 | 3,790 |
| Louisiana | $14.16/hr | $29,450 | $33,386 | $28,941 | 6,670 |
| Alabama | $8.48/hr | $17,630 | $19,849 | $16,938 | 10,410 |
| Guam | $20.06/hr | $41,720 | Not published | Not published | 110 |
| Virgin Islands | $19.29/hr | $40,120 | Not published | Not published | 50 |
| Puerto Rico | $13.44/hr | $27,950 | Not published | Not published | 1,280 |
National median for comparison: $47,920. “Worth locally” divides pay by the area’s price level, so a figure above the headline means money goes further there than the US average.
$47,920/year
$23.04/hr an hour, national median
Across the states
$17,040$70,890
25th to 75th percentile, lowest and highest state
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