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.
Bus Driver, Transit and Intercity Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
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 4.3% through 2034, with about 20,900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
SOC 53-3052Transportation and Material MovingLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $59,050
- Projected growth
- +4.3%
- Openings a year
- 20,900
- Typical education
- High school
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Bus Driver, Bus Operator, Charter Bus Driver, Coach Operator, Motor Coach Driver, Motor Coach Operator.
How much do Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity make?
10th percentile$40,030
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$47,530
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$59,050
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$70,700
Upper quartile
90th percentile$84,700
Top-paid tenth
| 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
The median is typical for the Transportation and Material Moving group, where the middle occupation pays $58,405.
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 41% of the 923 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.
Which states pay Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $84,480 | $78,279 | 16,770 |
| Washington | $72,280 | $67,543 | 6,960 |
| Hawaii | $68,500 | $62,300 | 2,190 |
| California | $67,130 | $60,630 | 24,380 |
| Oregon | $65,510 | $63,380 | 2,620 |
| Massachusetts | $65,460 | $61,897 | 3,970 |
| Maryland | $65,220 | $62,139 | 4,890 |
| Illinois | $65,200 | $65,227 | 8,650 |
| Alaska | $64,150 | $62,672 | 250 |
| Colorado | $63,010 | $61,144 | 3,540 |
Is Bus Driver, Transit and Intercity a growing career?
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity4.3%
All US occupations3.1%
+4.3% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity to change 4.3% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 6,800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 20,900 openings are projected each year, 13.2% of the 158,800 jobs that existed in 2024. 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 2024 to 2034.
Despite limited employment growth, about 81,800 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.
How to become a Bus Driver, Transit and Intercity
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.
| Typical entry-level education | High school diploma or equivalent |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Little or no preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
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 Diploma83.8%
- Less than a High School Diploma13.0%
- Post-Secondary Certificate1.7%
- Some College Courses1.5%
What does a Bus Driver, Transit and Intercity 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.
Where bus drivers, transit and intercity work
| Elementary and secondary schools; local | 48% |
|---|---|
| School and employee bus transportation | 34% |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 10% |
| Elementary and secondary schools; private | 2% |
| Other transit and ground passenger transportation | 1% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Active Listening3.1/5
- Critical Thinking3.1/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Monitoring3.0/5
- Reading Comprehension2.8/5
- Active Learning2.6/5
- Writing2.5/5
- Learning Strategies2.1/5
Transferable skills
- Operation and Control3.9/5
- Operations Monitoring3.6/5
- Service Orientation3.1/5
- Time Management3.1/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.8/5
- Coordination2.6/5
- Persuasion2.5/5
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.
What personality type suits a Bus Driver, Transit and Intercity?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary6.0
Investigative1.0
Artistic1.0
Socialprimary3.6
Enterprising2.8
Conventionalprimary4.7
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.
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.
Bus Driver, Transit and Intercity: frequently asked questions
How much do Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity 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.
Do you need a degree to become a Bus Driver, Transit and Intercity?
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.
Is Bus Driver, Transit and Intercity a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4.3% over 2024–2034, faster than the 3.1% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 20,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Bus Driver, Transit and Intercity 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.
Which states pay Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity 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 personality type suits a Bus Driver, Transit and Intercity?
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 923 occupations in the bank.