How Much Does School Bus Drivers Make
The School Bus Driver role earned an average salary of $40,365 in California in 2023. Get a salary report by industry, company size, and skills.

Below explains who the school bus driver is and how much they make.
Who are School Bus Drivers?
A school bus driver operates a bus used for educational purposes. provides transportation for pupils to and from school and specified areas.
A high school diploma or its equivalent could be necessary to work as a school bus driver. reports typically to a supervisor.
A current driver’s license is also needed for the position of school bus driver. The school bus driver has a fair understanding of the job’s fundamentals.
How Much Does a School Bus Driver make?
In the US, a school bus driver receives an average salary of $33,906.
The average incentive for a school bus driver is $1,072, or 3% of their annual compensation; 100% of those surveyed said they receive a bonus every year.
San Francisco has the highest average total compensation for school bus drivers at $46,923, which is 38 per cent higher than the national average.
Salary Ranges for School Bus Drivers
The salaries of School Bus Drivers in the US range from $10,150 to $162,639, with a median salary of $31,392.
The middle 57% of School Bus Drivers make between $31,392 and $75,130, with the top 86% making $162,639.
National Salary Range
The median school bus driver pay in 2018 was $34,450, according to the BLS report. The median hourly wage for school bus drivers was $16.56.
The occupation’s median pay indicates that half of the workforce made more money than the other half.
Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Bus Driver Jobs
We’ve identified 10 cities where a Bus Driver’s typical pay is higher than the national average.

Sunnyvale, California, is at the top of the list, followed closely by Santa Rosa, California, and Manhattan, New York, in the second and third spots. Manhattan;
New York exceeds the national average by $6,764 (19.0%), while Sunnyvale, California continues this trend by exceeding the average by an additional $8,121 (22.8%).
City |
Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
Sunnyvale, CA | $43,679 | $3,640 | $840 | $21.00 |
Santa Rosa, CA | $42,545 | $3,545 | $818 |
$20.45 |
Manhattan, NY | $42,321 | $3,527 | $814 | $20.35 |
Cambridge, MA | $41,050 | $3,421 | $789 |
$19.74 |
Chappaqua, NY | $40,821 | $3,402 | $785 | $19.63 |
Arlington, VA | $40,731 | $3,394 | $783 |
$19.58 |
Williston, ND | $40,404 | $3,367 | $777 | $19.43 |
Vacaville, CA | $40,140 | $3,345 | $772 |
$19.30 |
New York City, NY | $40,073 | $3,339 | $771 | $19.27 |
Worcester, MA | $39,997 | $3,333 | $769 |
$19.23 |
FAQs on How Much Does School Bus Drivers Make
Some faqs on how much school bus drivers make.
1. Who pays the most for school bus drivers?
The states and districts that pay drivers the highest mean salary are New York ($64,330), Alaska ($60,400), Washington ($59,880), Massachusetts ($56,930), and California ($54,560).
2. How much do local school bus drivers make?
The salaries of School Bus Drivers in the US range from $10,150 to $162,639 , with a median salary of $31,392.
The middle of 57% of makes between $31,392 and $75,130, with the top 86% making $162,639.
3. What is the highest-paid bus driver?
Highest paying cities for Bus Drivers in United States ; Los Angeles, CA. $21.33 per hour.
4. How much does a bus driver make a month?
While us seeing monthly salaries as high as $4,542 and as low as $1,333, the majority of bus driver salaries currently range between $2,333 (25th percentile) to $3,458 (75th percentile) across the United States.
5. What do school bus drivers make in California?
The average School Bus Driver salary in California is $40,365 as of May 27, 2022.
6. How much do school drivers make in Florida?
The average salary for a bus driver is $16.04 per hour in Florida. 1.1k salaries reported, updated at June 17, 2022.
7. How much do school bus drivers make in Northern California?
The average School Bus Driver salary in California is $40,365 as of May 27, 2022, but the range typically falls between $32,591 and $49,201.
8. How do I become a school bus driver in California?
‣ Attend a minimum of 20 hours of classroom instruction.
‣ Pass a physical examination (no Epilepsy, Type I Diabetes, or High Blood Pressure).
‣ Pass 4 written tests at the DMV.
‣ Pass 2 written tests at the CHP.
‣ Train a minimum of 20 hours behind the wheel.
9. What is the job description of a bus driver?
Obey traffic laws, safety procedures, and transit regulations. Pick up and drop off passengers at designated locations.
Follow a specific timetable while on duty. Assist passengers with disabilities to get on the bus.
10. How much do bus drivers get paid in San Francisco?
The average salary for a Bus Driver is $28.74 per hour in San Francisco, CA.
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CSN Team.