53 Series · SOC 53-3052

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$59,050
Median / year
$84,700
Top 10% earn
+4.3%
Growth '23–'33
159,240
US workers

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity earn a median of $59,050 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $59,050, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $40,030 (10th percentile) to $84,700 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 159,240 US workers. New York pays the most ($84,480), since pay varies by state and metro area.

53 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
Share: Post LinkedIn

The pay verdict

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity earn a median of $59,050, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 47% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Transportation and Material Moving, it ranks #19 of 50 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 4.3% by 2033.

$59,050
Median annual wage
Top 53%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#19 of 50
in Transportation and Material Moving
2.1×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: New York at $84,480. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity (SOC 53-3052) pays a national median of $59,050 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $40,030 at the 10th percentile to $84,700 at the 90th, with a mean of $60,280 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 159,240 Americans work in this occupation across 52 reporting states and 242 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 20,900 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of C for this role, with a fatality rate of 17.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 4.8 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. New York pays the highest state median at $84,480, which is +43% above the national figure. The top metro is Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV at $90,460 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 159,240 jobs Median $59,050/yr

Median Salary

$59,050

per year

Median Hourly

$28.39/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$60,280

average

Employment

159,240

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$59,050 Bottom 47% higher than 47% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 53-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 53-series occupations with growth data, Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity sits on the slower-growing side at +4.3% growth and $59,050 median pay.

Among 24 53-series occupations with growth data, Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity sits on the slower-growing side at +4.3% growth and $59,050 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $0$50000$100000$150000$200000$250000 -20%-10%0%10%20% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 24 53-series occupations with growth data, Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity sits on the slower-growing side at +4.3% growth and $59,050 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+4.3%

About average

Annual Openings

20,900

per year (projected)

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-Job Training

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
C

Moderate Risk

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

17.5/100K

Injury Rate

4.8/100

Danger Index

28/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Operation and Control 3.9
Operations Monitoring 3.6
Active Listening 3.1
Critical Thinking 3.1
Service Orientation 3.1
Time Management 3.1
Speaking 3.0
Monitoring 3.0
Social Perceptiveness 3.0
Reading Comprehension 2.8

Knowledge Areas

Transportation 4.5
Customer and Personal Service 4.3
Public Safety and Security 4.0
English Language 3.4
Law and Government 3.1
Administration and Management 2.8
Telecommunications 2.8
Computers and Electronics 2.7
Education and Training 2.5
Administrative 2.4

Key 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.
  • Park vehicles at loading areas so that passengers can board.
  • Inspect vehicles and check gas, oil, and water levels prior to departure.
  • Announce stops to passengers.
  • 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.
  • Collect tickets or cash fares from passengers.
  • Handle passenger emergencies or disruptions.
  • Report delays or accidents.
  • Advise passengers to be seated and orderly while on vehicles.
  • Read maps to plan bus routes.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$40,030$47,530$59,050$70,700$84,700
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$19.25$22.85$28.39$33.99$40.72
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$40,030

25th Percentile

$47,530

Median

$59,050

75th Percentile

$70,700

90th Percentile

$84,700

Salary by State

View all 52 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 New York $84,480 +43% above national
2 Washington $72,280 +22% above national
3 Hawaii $68,500 +16% above national
4 California $67,130 +14% above national
5 Oregon $65,510 +11% above national
6 Massachusetts $65,460 +11% above national
7 Maryland $65,220 +10% above national
8 Illinois $65,200 +10% above national
9 Alaska $64,150 +9% above national
10 Colorado $63,010 +7% above national
11 Ohio $62,760 +6% above national
12 Nevada $61,700 +4% above national
13 New Jersey $61,140 +4% above national
14 Missouri $60,660 +3% above national
15 Delaware $60,510 +2% above national
16 Connecticut $60,100 +2% above national
17 Indiana $58,410 1% below national
18 Maine $57,870 2% below national
19 District of Columbia $55,580 6% below national
20 New Hampshire $54,830 7% below national
21 Kentucky $54,550 8% below national
22 Arizona $53,870 9% below national
23 Vermont $53,830 9% below national
24 Virginia $52,940 10% below national
25 Wisconsin $52,660 11% below national
26 Pennsylvania $51,360 13% below national
27 Utah $50,730 14% below national
28 Oklahoma $50,300 15% below national
29 Minnesota $50,200 15% below national
30 Idaho $49,000 17% below national
31 North Dakota $48,890 17% below national
32 Louisiana $48,860 17% below national
33 Texas $48,740 17% below national
34 Rhode Island $48,610 18% below national
35 Florida $48,300 18% below national
36 Tennessee $47,770 19% below national
37 Michigan $47,660 19% below national
38 Iowa $45,890 22% below national
39 Montana $45,640 23% below national
40 Wyoming $45,630 23% below national
41 New Mexico $45,610 23% below national
42 Georgia $45,500 23% below national
43 Nebraska $45,120 24% below national
44 North Carolina $44,060 25% below national
45 South Carolina $43,330 27% below national
46 South Dakota $41,590 30% below national
47 Kansas $41,340 30% below national
48 West Virginia $39,260 34% below national
49 Mississippi $38,570 35% below national
50 Alabama $37,700 36% below national
51 Arkansas $37,520 36% below national
52 Puerto Rico $32,230 45% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 242 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $90,460 +53% above national
2 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $83,430 +41% above national
3 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $80,170 +36% above national
4 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $78,900 +34% above national
5 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $78,130 +32% above national
6 Columbus, OH $73,790 +25% above national
7 Salinas, CA $71,290 +21% above national
8 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $70,700 +20% above national
9 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $70,680 +20% above national
10 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $70,120 +19% above national
11 Akron, OH $70,000 +19% above national
12 Urban Honolulu, HI $68,500 +16% above national
13 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $68,020 +15% above national
14 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $67,420 +14% above national
15 Alaska nonmetropolitan area $67,000 +13% above national
16 Boulder, CO $66,840 +13% above national
17 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $66,590 +13% above national
18 Springfield, MA $65,770 +11% above national
19 Eugene-Springfield, OR $65,510 +11% above national
20 Ann Arbor, MI $65,370 +11% above national
21 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $65,360 +11% above national
22 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $65,220 +10% above national
23 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $65,200 +10% above national
24 Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $65,010 +10% above national
25 Anchorage, AK $63,450 +7% above national
26 Portland-South Portland, ME $63,360 +7% above national
27 Colorado Springs, CO $63,010 +7% above national
28 Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area $62,710 +6% above national
29 Burlington-South Burlington, VT $62,630 +6% above national
30 Rochester, NY $62,420 +6% above national
31 Fresno, CA $62,170 +5% above national
32 Western Washington nonmetropolitan area $62,120 +5% above national
33 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $61,470 +4% above national
34 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $61,360 +4% above national
35 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $61,290 +4% above national
36 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $61,250 +4% above national
37 Lincoln, NE $61,120 +4% above national
38 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $61,100 +3% above national
39 St. Louis, MO-IL $61,080 +3% above national
40 Kahului-Wailuku, HI $61,030 +3% above national
41 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $60,750 +3% above national
42 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY $60,620 +3% above national
43 Worcester, MA $60,470 +2% above national
44 Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $60,370 +2% above national
45 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $60,320 +2% above national
46 Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area $60,250 +2% above national
47 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $60,100 +2% above national
48 Pittsburgh, PA $59,720 +1% above national
49 Eau Claire, WI $59,660 +1% above national
50 Napa, CA $59,560 +1% above national
51 Kansas City, MO-KS $59,360 +1% above national
52 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $59,120 same as national
53 Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $59,030 same as national
54 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $58,930 same as national
55 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $58,870 same as national
56 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $58,490 1% below national
57 Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area $57,990 2% below national
58 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $57,980 2% below national
59 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $57,800 2% below national
60 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $57,780 2% below national
61 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $57,500 3% below national
62 Oklahoma City, OK $57,400 3% below national
63 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $57,050 3% below national
64 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $57,020 3% below national
65 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $56,940 4% below national
66 North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area $56,860 4% below national
67 Missoula, MT $56,570 4% below national
68 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $56,120 5% below national
69 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $56,110 5% below national
70 North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $55,130 7% below national
71 Lexington-Fayette, KY $54,740 7% below national
72 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $54,140 8% below national
73 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $53,560 9% below national
74 Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $53,460 9% below national
75 Boise City, ID $53,050 10% below national
76 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $53,020 10% below national
77 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $53,020 10% below national
78 Cedar Rapids, IA $52,950 10% below national
79 Cleveland, OH $52,610 11% below national
80 Sheboygan, WI $52,540 11% below national
81 Johnstown, PA $52,440 11% below national
82 Flagstaff, AZ $52,360 11% below national
83 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $52,100 12% below national
84 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $52,000 12% below national
85 Ogden, UT $51,990 12% below national
86 Midland, TX $51,950 12% below national
87 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $51,790 12% below national
88 Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $51,480 13% below national
89 Syracuse, NY $51,210 13% below national
90 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $51,070 14% below national
91 Champaign-Urbana, IL $51,010 14% below national
92 Peoria, IL $50,930 14% below national
93 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $50,900 14% below national
94 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $50,880 14% below national
95 Topeka, KS $50,800 14% below national
96 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $50,730 14% below national
97 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $50,430 15% below national
98 Richmond, VA $50,270 15% below national
99 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $50,220 15% below national
100 Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $50,140 15% below national
101 Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $49,830 16% below national
102 Iowa City, IA $49,590 16% below national
103 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $49,500 16% below national
104 Tulsa, OK $49,440 16% below national
105 Evansville, IN $49,430 16% below national
106 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $49,430 16% below national
107 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $49,310 16% below national
108 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $49,000 17% below national
109 Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area $49,000 17% below national
110 Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $48,930 17% below national
111 Fargo, ND-MN $48,890 17% below national
112 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $48,860 17% below national
113 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $48,300 18% below national
114 Pittsfield, MA $48,200 18% below national
115 Rockford, IL $48,200 18% below national
116 Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area $48,190 18% below national
117 Jacksonville, FL $48,120 19% below national
118 Reno, NV $48,080 19% below national
119 Youngstown-Warren, OH $48,030 19% below national
120 Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $47,990 19% below national
121 Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $47,990 19% below national
122 Charlottesville, VA $47,950 19% below national
123 Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $47,940 19% below national
124 Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $47,940 19% below national
125 Bozeman, MT $47,920 19% below national
126 Fort Smith, AR-OK $47,910 19% below national
127 Flint, MI $47,660 19% below national
128 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $47,580 19% below national
129 Columbus, GA-AL $47,570 19% below national
130 West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area $47,540 19% below national
131 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $47,460 20% below national
132 High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area $47,150 20% below national
133 Midland, MI $47,050 20% below national
134 Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $46,960 20% below national
135 Michigan City-La Porte, IN $46,910 21% below national
136 Santa Fe, NM $46,900 21% below national
137 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $46,860 21% below national
138 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $46,830 21% below national
139 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $46,810 21% below national
140 Raleigh-Cary, NC $46,800 21% below national
141 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $46,790 21% below national
142 York-Hanover, PA $46,760 21% below national
143 Omaha, NE-IA $46,740 21% below national
144 Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area $46,550 21% below national
145 Albuquerque, NM $46,510 21% below national
146 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $46,460 21% below national
147 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $46,430 21% below national
148 Las Cruces, NM $46,430 21% below national
149 Central East New York nonmetropolitan area $46,260 22% below national
150 Clarksville, TN-KY $46,190 22% below national
151 Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $46,140 22% below national
152 Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $45,880 22% below national
153 Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area $45,860 22% below national
154 Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area $45,830 22% below national
155 West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area $45,810 22% below national
156 Roanoke, VA $45,760 23% below national
157 Chattanooga, TN-GA $45,700 23% below national
158 Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $45,690 23% below national
159 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $45,620 23% below national
160 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $45,450 23% below national
161 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $45,330 23% below national
162 Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $45,200 23% below national
163 Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $45,200 23% below national
164 Bismarck, ND $45,130 24% below national
165 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $44,810 24% below national
166 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $44,760 24% below national
167 Columbia, SC $44,750 24% below national
168 Mankato, MN $44,730 24% below national
169 Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area $44,650 24% below national
170 Wausau, WI $44,440 25% below national
171 Maryland nonmetropolitan area $44,280 25% below national
172 Greensboro-High Point, NC $44,060 25% below national
173 Jefferson City, MO $43,980 26% below national
174 Janesville-Beloit, WI $43,740 26% below national
175 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $43,720 26% below national
176 West Montana nonmetropolitan area $43,640 26% below national
177 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $43,330 27% below national
178 East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area $43,010 27% below national
179 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $42,830 27% below national
180 Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area $42,500 28% below national
181 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $42,360 28% below national
182 Huntsville, AL $41,910 29% below national
183 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $41,350 30% below national
184 Wichita, KS $41,340 30% below national
185 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $41,030 31% below national
186 Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $40,890 31% below national
187 Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area $40,840 31% below national
188 Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area $40,700 31% below national
189 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $40,580 31% below national
190 Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area $40,520 31% below national
191 Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area $39,960 32% below national
192 Springfield, MO $39,600 33% below national
193 East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area $39,530 33% below national
194 East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area $39,480 33% below national
195 South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area $39,470 33% below national
196 Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ $39,120 34% below national
197 Corpus Christi, TX $39,110 34% below national
198 Longview, TX $38,990 34% below national
199 Tyler, TX $38,990 34% below national
200 Killeen-Temple, TX $38,800 34% below national
201 El Paso, TX $38,730 34% below national
202 East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area $38,620 35% below national
203 Jackson, MS $38,570 35% below national
204 Bowling Green, KY $38,310 35% below national
205 Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $37,960 36% below national
206 Birmingham, AL $37,890 36% below national
207 Arizona nonmetropolitan area $37,850 36% below national
208 Tuscaloosa, AL $37,780 36% below national
209 Lawton, OK $37,640 36% below national
210 East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $37,560 36% below national
211 East Georgia nonmetropolitan area $37,510 36% below national
212 Texarkana, TX-AR $37,280 37% below national
213 Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $37,160 37% below national
214 Abilene, TX $37,010 37% below national
215 Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area $36,960 37% below national
216 Monroe, LA $36,950 37% below national
217 Dothan, AL $36,920 37% below national
218 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $36,920 37% below national
219 Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $36,760 38% below national
220 Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area $36,720 38% below national
221 Kansas nonmetropolitan area $36,650 38% below national
222 Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area $36,280 39% below national
223 Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area $36,020 39% below national
224 Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $35,970 39% below national
225 Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area $35,920 39% below national
226 Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $35,890 39% below national
227 Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area $35,720 40% below national
228 Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area $35,720 40% below national
229 Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $35,570 40% below national
230 Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area $35,460 40% below national
231 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX $35,250 40% below national
232 Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $34,930 41% below national
233 North Georgia nonmetropolitan area $34,850 41% below national
234 Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $34,490 42% below national
235 Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area $32,850 44% below national
236 Hot Springs, AR $32,720 45% below national
237 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $32,230 45% below national
238 Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area $30,180 49% below national
239 North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $29,550 50% below national
240 West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $28,480 52% below national
241 Ponce, PR $23,030 61% below national
242 Enid, OK $22,520 62% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 53 (transportation and material moving) with comparable pay and career paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity make?
The median annual salary for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity is $59,050 ($28.39/hour). The salary range spans from $40,030 at the 10th percentile to $84,700 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity the most?
New York pays the highest median salary for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity at $84,480/year, which is +43% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity?
The typical entry-level education for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity?
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity has a safety grade of C (Moderate Risk) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 17.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 4.8 per 100 workers.
Is Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity a good career?
Employment for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity is projected to grow 4.3% from 2024 to 2034, which is about average. About 20,900 openings are projected each year.
How does Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity pay vary by state?
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is New York at $84,480/year, while West Virginia pays the least at $39,260/year. BLS data covers 52 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity?
The highest-paying metro area for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity is Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV at $90,460/year. BLS reports wage data for 242 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $70,700/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: New York leads at $84,480/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.