The median pay for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity is $59,050 a year ($28.39/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 4.1% through 2035, with about 21,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- Commonly called: Transit Bus Driver
- SOC 53-3052
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Bus Driver, Transit and Intercity in four numbers
- Median pay
- $59,050a year, or $28.39/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $40KTop 10% $85K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +4.1%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+4.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +4.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 21,100166,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025166.4K
- Projected 2035173.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 166.4K Projected 2035 173.3K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school13%
- High school83.8%
- Certificate1.7%
- Some college1.5%
Highest education held by bus drivers, transit and intercity Segment Value Less than high school 13% High school 83.8% Certificate 1.7% Some college 1.5%
Also advertised as: Bus Driver, Bus Operator, Charter Bus Driver, Coach Operator, Motor Coach Driver, Motor Coach Operator.
Pay
How much do transit bus drivers make?
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity earn a median of $59,050 a year ($28.39 an hour, or about $4,920 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $40,030 and the top 10% more than $84,700 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is New York, with a median of $84,480. See Transit bus driver salary in New York and every other state. By city, pay is highest around Seattle ($79,810 average): salary in every city.
Every bus driver, transit and intercity in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$59,050
Middle half earn $47,530 to $70,700
- 10th
- $40,030
- 25th
- $47,530
- 75th
- $70,700
- 90th
- $84,700
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $40,030 |
| 25th | $47,530 |
| Median | $59,050 |
| 75th | $70,700 |
| 90th | $84,700 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $59,050
- Median hourly wage
- $28.39/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $60,280
- People employed
- 159,240
Versus all US occupations
At $59,050, Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity earn 16% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $8,070 a year.
Versus transportation and material moving occupations
Inside the Transportation and Material Moving group, where the middle occupation pays $62,840, this is 6% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $84,700 or more while the bottom 10% earn $40,030, a gap of 2.1×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 31% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New York pays the most at $84,480, and still leads at $78,279 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay transit 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New York | $84,480 | $78,279 | 16,770 |
| 2Washington | $72,280 | $67,543 | 6,960 |
| 3Hawaii | $68,500 | $62,300 | 2,190 |
| 4California | $67,130 | $60,630 | 24,380 |
| 5Oregon | $65,510 | $63,380 | 2,620 |
| 6Massachusetts | $65,460 | $61,897 | 3,970 |
| 7Maryland | $65,220 | $62,139 | 4,890 |
| 8Illinois | $65,200 | $65,227 | 8,650 |
| 9Alaska | $64,150 | $62,672 | 250 |
| 10Colorado | $63,010 | $61,144 | 3,540 |
Job outlook
Is transit bus driver a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +4.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | +4.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity to change 4.1% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 6,900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 21,100 openings are projected each year, 12.7% of the 166,400 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 transit bus driver
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
Moderate-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, transit and intercity.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)83.8%
- Less than a High School Diploma13%
- Post-Secondary Certificate1.7%
- Some College Courses1.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 83.8% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 13% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 1.7% |
| Some College Courses | 1.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a transit bus driver do?
Drive bus or motor coach, including regular route operations, charters, and private carriage. May assist passengers with baggage. May collect fares or tickets.
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
- Drive vehicles over specified routes or to specified destinations according to time schedules, complying with traffic regulations to ensure that passengers have a smooth and safe ride.
- Assist passengers, such as elderly or individuals with disabilities, on and off bus, ensure they are seated properly, help carry baggage, and answer questions about bus schedules or routes.
- Handle passenger emergencies or disruptions.
- Report delays or accidents.
- Park vehicles at loading areas so that passengers can board.
- Regulate heating, lighting, and ventilating systems for passenger comfort.
- Advise passengers to be seated and orderly while on vehicles.
- Maintain cleanliness of bus or motor coach.
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 dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
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
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
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, transit and intercity 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 Listening3.1
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Speaking3.0
- Monitoring3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.8
- Active Learning2.6
- Writing2.5
- Learning Strategies2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.8 |
| Active Learning | 2.6 |
| Writing | 2.5 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operation and Control3.9
- Operations Monitoring3.6
- Service Orientation3.1
- Time Management3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making2.8
- Coordination2.6
- Persuasion2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 3.9 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.6 |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.8 |
| Coordination | 2.6 |
| Persuasion | 2.5 |
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 transit bus driver?
Women make up 36.7% of bus drivers, transit and intercity, against 47.1% of all employed people: more men than in the workforce as a whole.
48.1% 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 53.0 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 36.7%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 53.0All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 48.1%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 268,000BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of bus drivers, transit and intercity | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 36.7% | 47.1% |
| White | 61.0% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 32.2% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 3.0% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 21.4% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 48.1% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 1.5% | 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 transit bus driver?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Bus Driver, Transit and Intercity |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| 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.
- Realistic6.0
- Conventional4.7
- Social3.6
- Enterprising2.8
- Investigative1.0
- Artistic1.0
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, Transit and Intercity
O*NET related occupations
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Protective Service
- Transportation and Material Moving
More transportation and material moving careers
Median annual pay, with bus drivers, transit and intercity 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
- Bus Driver, Transit and Intercity$59,050
- Truck Driver$58,640
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$49,690
| 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 |
| Bus Driver, Transit and Intercity | $59,050 |
| Truck Driver | $58,640 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $49,690 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Bus Driver, Transit and Intercity appears on
Questions
Bus Driver, Transit and Intercity: frequently asked questions
How much do transit bus drivers make?
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity earn a median of $59,050 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 16% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $28.39/hr. The middle half earn between $47,530 and $70,700. The top 10% earn $84,700 or more.
How much do transit bus drivers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for bus drivers, transit and intercity is $28.39 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $59,050 annual median works out to about $4,920 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a transit bus driver?
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, transit and intercity earn less than $40,030 a year and the bottom quarter less than $47,530 (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.
Do transit bus drivers make $100k?
Rarely. Even the 90th percentile is $84,700, so fewer than 10% of bus drivers, transit and intercity earn $100,000 or more (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No state's median reaches $100,000; the highest is New York at $84,480.
Which states pay transit bus drivers the most?
The highest state medians for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity are New York ($84,480), Washington ($72,280), Hawaii ($68,500) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What kind of transit bus driver earns the most?
BLS does not split bus drivers, transit and intercity' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $84,700, against a median of $59,050 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are New York ($84,480), Washington ($72,280), Hawaii ($68,500).
Do you need a degree to become a transit bus driver?
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, Transit and Intercity. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 83.8% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
How long does it take to become a transit bus driver?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for transit bus drivers is a high school diploma or equivalent. Once hired, BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical. O*NET classes the work as needing some preparation.
Is transit bus driver a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 4.1% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 21,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a transit bus driver 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: drive vehicles over specified routes or to specified destinations according to time schedules, complying with traffic regulations to ensure that passengers have a smooth and safe ride. Employers most often ask for Operating system software.
Do transit bus drivers work 40 hours a week?
A 40-hour week is the most common pattern, though not a majority. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 29% of bus drivers, transit and intercity usually work more than 40 hours a week, 47% work exactly 40 and 24% work fewer. 83% say their schedule is regular and 17% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a transit bus driver?
O*NET scores Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity 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 the closest types are ISFJ, ESTJ. 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 transit bus drivers are women?
Women make up 36.7% of bus drivers, transit and intercity, against 47.1% of all employed people: more men than in the workforce as a whole. 48.1% 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 53.0 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.