Bus Drivers, School salary in California
Bus Drivers, School in California earn a median of $61,040 a year ($29.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 16,600 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,680 for the top 10%. That is 27% higher than the national median of $47,920. California ranks 4th of 51 states for bus drivers, school pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.91 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.35). The average (mean) salary is $60,520, close to the median.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,870 | $22.05 |
| 25th percentile | $51,110 | $24.57 |
| Median | $61,040 | $29.35 |
| 75th percentile | $70,570 | $33.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,680 | $35.43 |
| Average (mean) | $60,520 | $29.10 |
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 | $5,086.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,543.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,347.69 |
| Weekly | $1,173.85 |
| Hourly | $29.35 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bus Drivers, School salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $75,230 | 610 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $73,680 | 2,350 |
| Napa, CA | $67,430 | 70 |
| Modesto, CA | $62,870 | 190 |
| El Centro, CA | $62,610 | 60 |
| Salinas, CA | $62,390 | 140 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $61,900 | 2,980 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $61,720 | 380 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $61,580 | 4,090 |
| Merced, CA | $61,580 | 300 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $61,570 | 260 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $60,600 | 60 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $60,440 | 1,160 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $60,420 | 350 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $60,390 | 600 |
| Visalia, CA | $59,490 | 270 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $59,100 | 140 |
| Chico, CA | $58,080 | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $57,050 | 190 |
| Vallejo, CA | $54,030 | 140 |
| Fresno, CA | $52,650 | 750 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $51,880 | 470 |
| Yuba City, CA | $48,010 | 70 |
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 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Light Truck Driver | $46,790 | $22.50 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $45,600 | $21.92 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $44,730 | $21.50 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $67,130 | $32.27 |
| Taxi Driver | $39,260 | $18.88 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $45,050 | $21.66 |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | $36,150 | $17.38 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,710 | $21.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $42,870 | $20.61 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,770 | $22.97 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $65,550 | $31.51 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $37,920 | $18.23 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in California is $61,040 a year, or $29.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in California?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in California earn at least $73,680 a year. The top 25% earn $70,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,870 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $51,110 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in California?
About 16,600 bus drivers, school are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.