Bus Drivers, School salary in Appleton, WI
Bus Drivers, School in the Appleton, WI metro area earn a median of $46,790 a year ($22.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 230 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,960 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $47,920. Pay here is 2% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $47,760. There are 1.8 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.70). The average (mean) salary is $51,370, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Appleton, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,420 | $18.47 |
| 25th percentile | $45,850 | $22.04 |
| Median | $46,790 | $22.49 |
| 75th percentile | $54,930 | $26.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,960 | $39.89 |
| Average (mean) | $51,370 | $24.70 |
Half of bus drivers, school earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,899.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,949.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,799.62 |
| Weekly | $899.81 |
| Hourly | $22.49 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bus Drivers, School salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sheboygan, WI | $55,290 | 100 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $52,670 | 190 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $50,240 | 8,070 |
| Madison, WI | $48,450 | 790 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $48,290 | 1,880 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $47,360 | 270 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $46,840 | 240 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $46,780 | 380 |
| Green Bay, WI | $46,610 | 440 |
| Wausau, WI | $46,200 | 240 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $45,950 | 320 |
Highest-paying states for bus drivers, school
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $65,170 |
| Washington | $63,370 |
| Connecticut | $61,520 |
| California | $61,040 |
| New Jersey | $59,430 |
| Hawaii | $59,090 |
| Rhode Island | $58,700 |
| New York | $56,640 |
| Vermont | $56,580 |
| Maryland | $56,450 |
See Bus Drivers, School pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Appleton, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,730 | $28.24 |
| Light Truck Driver | $43,120 | $20.73 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $27,590 | $13.27 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $30,640 | $14.73 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $33,780 | $16.24 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $43,610 | $20.97 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $34,430 | $16.56 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,540 | $22.86 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,460 | $17.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,340 | $29.97 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $37,060 | $17.82 |
| Parking Attendant | $25,980 | $12.49 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $38,160 | $18.35 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Appleton, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-3051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus drivers, school make in Appleton, WI?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in the Appleton, WI metro area is $46,790 a year, or $22.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Appleton, WI?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in the Appleton, WI metro area earn at least $82,960 a year. The top 25% earn $54,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Appleton, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,420 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $45,850 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Appleton, WI?
About 230 bus drivers, school are employed in the Appleton, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.