Bus Drivers, School earn a median of $47,920 per year ($23.04/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 0.7% through 2035, with about 56,500 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 53-3051
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Bus Driver, School in four numbers
- Median pay
- $47,920a year, or $23.04/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $29KTop 10% $66K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +0.7%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+0.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +0.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 56,500396,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025396.8K
- Projected 2035399.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 396.8K Projected 2035 399.7K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school37.3%
- High school59.3%
- Certificate3.5%
Highest education held by bus drivers, school Segment Value Less than high school 37.3% High school 59.3% Certificate 3.5%
Also advertised as: Bus Drive Coordinator, Bus Driver Route Coordinator, CDL Bus Driver (Commercial Driver's License Bus Driver), Public School Bus Driver, School Bus Driver, School Van Driver.
Pay
How much do bus drivers make?
Bus Drivers, School earn a median of $47,920 a year ($23.04 an hour, or about $3,990 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $29,240 and the top 10% more than $65,730 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is Massachusetts, with a median of $65,170. See Bus driver, school salary in Massachusetts and every other state. By city, pay is highest around San Jose ($70,910 average): salary in every city.
Every bus driver, school in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$47,920
Middle half earn $38,650 to $58,430
- 10th
- $29,240
- 25th
- $38,650
- 75th
- $58,430
- 90th
- $65,730
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $29,240 |
| 25th | $38,650 |
| Median | $47,920 |
| 75th | $58,430 |
| 90th | $65,730 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $47,920
- Median hourly wage
- $23.04/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $48,430
- People employed
- 402,930
Versus all US occupations
At $47,920, Bus Drivers, School earn 6% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $3,060 a year.
Versus transportation and material moving occupations
Inside the Transportation and Material Moving group, where the middle occupation pays $62,840, this is 24% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $65,730 or more while the bottom 10% earn $29,240, a gap of 2.2×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 18% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Massachusetts pays the most at $65,170, and still leads at $61,622 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay bus drivers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Massachusetts | $65,170 | $61,622 | 9,330 |
| 2Washington | $63,370 | $59,217 | 9,660 |
| 3Connecticut | $61,520 | $59,377 | 7,970 |
| 4California | $61,040 | $55,130 | 16,600 |
| 5New Jersey | $59,430 | $54,621 | 13,670 |
| 6Hawaii | $59,090 | $53,742 | 630 |
| 7Rhode Island | $58,700 | $57,391 | 1,800 |
| 8New York | $56,640 | $52,483 | 38,320 |
| 9Vermont | $56,580 | $57,759 | 860 |
| 10Maryland | $56,450 | $53,783 | 9,020 |
Job outlook
Is bus driver, school a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +0.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bus Drivers, School | +0.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Bus Drivers, School to change 0.7% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 2,900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 56,500 openings are projected each year, 14.2% of the 396,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of bus drivers is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035.
Despite limited employment growth, about 77,600 openings for bus drivers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Schools will continue to rely on school bus drivers to transport students. However, declining student enrollments in public and private schools over the decade are expected to constrain demand for these workers.
AI exposure: moderate
BLS places this occupation in its moderate relative AI exposure category, below the middle of the pack: some of the work overlaps with what AI can do, much of it does not.
Getting in
How to become a bus driver, school
Bus drivers must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL), which they sometimes earn during on-the-job training. They also need a good driving record and must meet physical, hearing, and vision requirements. In addition, bus drivers typically need a high school diploma or the equivalent and may be required to pass a background check.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as bus drivers, school.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)59.3%
- Less than a High School Diploma37.3%
- Post-Secondary Certificate3.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 59.3% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 37.3% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 3.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a bus driver, school do?
Drive a school bus to transport students. Ensure adherence to safety rules. May assist students in boarding or exiting.
Bus drivers transport people between various places, including school, work, and shopping centers, and across state and national borders. Some drive set routes, and others transport passengers on chartered trips or sightseeing tours. They drive a range of vehicles, from 15-passenger buses to 60-foot articulated buses (with two connected sections) that can carry more than 100 passengers.
Day-to-day tasks
- Comply with traffic regulations to operate vehicles in a safe and courteous manner.
- Check the condition of a vehicle's tires, brakes, windshield wipers, lights, oil, fuel, water, and safety equipment to ensure that everything is in working order.
- Report any bus malfunctions or needed repairs.
- Drive gasoline, diesel, or electrically powered multi-passenger vehicles to transport students between neighborhoods, schools, and school activities.
- Maintain order among students during trips to ensure safety.
- Report delays, accidents, or other traffic and transportation situations, using telephones or mobile two-way radios.
- Keep bus interiors clean for students.
- Regulate heating, lighting, and ventilation systems for student comfort.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Part-time work is common for bus drivers. Drivers’ schedules may vary and include early mornings, evenings, or weekends.
School bus drivers work only when school is in session, so their work hours are often limited. Some make multiple trips if schools in their district open and close at different times or if students need transportation to other activities.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where bus drivers, school work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Elementary and secondary schools; local48%
- School and employee bus transportation34%
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals11%
- Elementary and secondary schools; private2%
- Other transit and ground passenger transportation1%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Elementary and secondary schools; local | 48% |
| School and employee bus transportation | 34% |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 11% |
| Elementary and secondary schools; private | 2% |
| Other transit and ground passenger transportation | 1% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.4
- Critical Thinking3.4
- Monitoring3.4
- Speaking3.1
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Writing2.6
- Active Learning2.5
- Learning Strategies2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.4 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.4 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 |
| Speaking | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.6 |
| Active Learning | 2.5 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.3
- Operations Monitoring3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Service Orientation3.0
- Operation and Control2.9
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9
- Time Management2.9
- Persuasion2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.3 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 |
| Operation and Control | 2.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
| Persuasion | 2.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Operating system software · in demand
- Internet browser software
- Map creation software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a bus driver, school?
Women make up 51.8% of bus drivers, school, close to their 47.1% share of all employed people.
51.9% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs), so a larger-than-usual share of the workforce reaches retirement age over the next decade. Those exits are counted in the BLS openings figure.
The median worker is 55.9 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 51.8%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 55.9All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 51.9%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 210,000BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of bus drivers, school | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 51.8% | 47.1% |
| White | 69.1% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 27.1% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 0.7% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 17.5% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 51.9% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 0.5% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a bus driver, school?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Bus Driver, School |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic5.5
- Conventional4.7
- Social4.5
- Enterprising2.2
- Investigative1.6
- Artistic1.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Bus Driver, School
O*NET related occupations
- Protective Service
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
More transportation and material moving careers
Median annual pay, with bus drivers, school highlighted
- Airline Pilot$232,140
- Commercial Pilot$123,220
- Locomotive Engineer$81,410
- Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster$78,000
- Crane and Tower Operator$68,080
- Flight Attendant$63,580
- Truck Driver$58,640
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$49,690
- Bus Driver, School$47,920
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Airline Pilot | $232,140 |
| Commercial Pilot | $123,220 |
| Locomotive Engineer | $81,410 |
| Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster | $78,000 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $68,080 |
| Flight Attendant | $63,580 |
| Truck Driver | $58,640 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $49,690 |
| Bus Driver, School | $47,920 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Bus Driver, School appears on
Questions
Bus Driver, School: frequently asked questions
How much do bus drivers make?
Bus Drivers, School earn a median of $47,920 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 6% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $23.04/hr. The middle half earn between $38,650 and $58,430. The top 10% earn $65,730 or more.
How much do bus drivers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for bus drivers, school is $23.04 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $47,920 annual median works out to about $3,990 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a bus driver, school?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of bus drivers, school earn less than $29,240 a year and the bottom quarter less than $38,650 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Which states pay bus drivers the most?
The highest state medians for Bus Drivers, School are Massachusetts ($65,170), Washington ($63,370), Connecticut ($61,520) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What kind of bus driver, school earns the most?
BLS does not split bus drivers, school' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $65,730, against a median of $47,920 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are Massachusetts ($65,170), Washington ($63,370), Connecticut ($61,520).
Do you need a degree to become a bus driver, school?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Bus Drivers, School. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 59.3% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
How long does it take to become a bus driver, school?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for bus drivers is a high school diploma or equivalent. Once hired, BLS lists short-term on-the-job training as typical. O*NET classes the work as needing some preparation.
Is bus driver, school a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 0.7% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 56,500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a bus driver, school do?
Bus drivers transport people between various places, including school, work, and shopping centers, and across state and national borders. A core O*NET task: comply with traffic regulations to operate vehicles in a safe and courteous manner. Employers most often ask for Operating system software.
Do bus drivers work 40 hours a week?
Most work fewer than 40. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 20% of bus drivers, school usually work more than 40 hours a week, 3% work exactly 40 and 77% work fewer. 74% say their schedule is regular and 13% irregular, and 14% work seasonally. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a bus driver, school?
O*NET scores Bus Drivers, School highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Social interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
What percentage of bus drivers are women?
Women make up 51.8% of bus drivers, school, close to their 47.1% share of all employed people. 51.9% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs), so a larger-than-usual share of the workforce reaches retirement age over the next decade. Those exits are counted in the BLS openings figure. The median worker is 55.9 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.