Bus Drivers, School Career, Salary and Skills
Bus Drivers, School have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $47,920 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 402,930. Wage data is published for 402 locations.
Occupation description
Drive a school bus to transport students. Ensure adherence to safety rules. May assist students in boarding or exiting.
O*NET code
53-3051.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$47,920
Hourly median
$23.04
Employment
402,930
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.38 | 3.25 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.38 | 2.75 |
| Monitoring | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Speaking | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.12 | 2.75 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | 3.00 | 2.62 |
| Service Orientation | 3.00 | 2.62 |
| Operation and Control | 2.88 | 2.62 |
Typical tasks
- Keep bus interiors clean for students.
- Comply with traffic regulations to operate vehicles in a safe and courteous manner.
- Follow safety rules as students board and exit buses or cross streets near bus stops.
- 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.
- Pick up and drop off students at regularly scheduled neighborhood locations, following strict time schedules.
- Escort small children across roads and highways.
- Record bus routes.
Technology
- AOL MapQuest
- Microsoft Windows
- Web browser software
Bus Drivers, School salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Bus Drivers, School Salary in NYMedian $56,640 · Employment 38,320
- Bus Drivers, School Salary in TXMedian $44,490 · Employment 37,550
- Bus Drivers, School Salary in New York, NYMedian $59,790 · Employment 29,280
- Bus Drivers, School Salary in PAMedian $47,530 · Employment 23,670
- Bus Drivers, School Salary in ILMedian $49,090 · Employment 21,230
- Bus Drivers, School Salary in GAMedian $44,950 · Employment 16,880
- Bus Drivers, School Salary in CAMedian $61,040 · Employment 16,600
- Bus Drivers, School Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $49,180 · Employment 15,210
- Bus Drivers, School Salary in NJMedian $59,430 · Employment 13,670
- Bus Drivers, School Salary in FLMedian $44,690 · Employment 13,470
- Bus Drivers, School Salary in MNMedian $48,940 · Employment 13,110
- Bus Drivers, School Salary in VAMedian $50,190 · Employment 12,930
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- Commercial PilotsNational median $123,220
- Parking Enforcement WorkersNational median $46,730
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- Transit and Railroad PoliceNational median $90,230
- Passenger AttendantsNational median $37,720
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.