Bus Drivers, School salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Bus Drivers, School in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $40,650 a year ($19.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 500 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,760 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $47,920. Pay here is 9% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $37,460. There are 1.5 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.56). The average (mean) salary is $42,270, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,450 | $17.52 |
| 25th percentile | $38,700 | $18.61 |
| Median | $40,650 | $19.54 |
| 75th percentile | $45,490 | $21.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,760 | $23.92 |
| Average (mean) | $42,270 | $20.32 |
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 | $3,387.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,693.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,563.46 |
| Weekly | $781.73 |
| Hourly | $19.54 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $50,190 | 2,390 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $46,020 | 3,970 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $40,600 | 270 |
| Asheville, NC | $38,620 | 260 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $38,530 | 2,120 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $37,280 | 1,030 |
| Burlington, NC | $36,990 | 70 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $36,970 | 250 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $36,820 | 630 |
| Greenville, NC | $36,500 | 190 |
| Wilmington, NC | $36,490 | 140 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $35,790 | 60 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $35,190 | 130 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $35,050 | 450 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $53,280 | $25.61 |
| Light Truck Driver | $40,730 | $19.58 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $30,970 | $14.89 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $46,460 | $22.34 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $35,610 | $17.12 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $29,900 | $14.38 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,410 | $17.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,000 | $29.81 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,220 | $17.42 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $44,090 | $21.20 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,580 | $17.11 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $46,160 | $22.19 |
| Parking Attendant | $30,280 | $14.56 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $40,650 a year, or $19.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $49,760 a year. The top 25% earn $45,490 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,450 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $38,700 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 500 bus drivers, school are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.