Bus Drivers, School salary in Iowa
Bus Drivers, School in Iowa earn a median of $46,320 a year ($22.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,200 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $47,920. Iowa ranks 28th of 51 states for bus drivers, school pay. There are 3.1 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $47,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,440 | $13.67 |
| 25th percentile | $39,330 | $18.91 |
| Median | $46,320 | $22.27 |
| 75th percentile | $56,070 | $26.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,200 | $30.39 |
| Average (mean) | $47,980 | $23.07 |
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 | $3,860 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,930 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,781.54 |
| Weekly | $890.77 |
| Hourly | $22.27 |
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 Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ames, IA | $54,780 | 220 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $50,850 | 1,390 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $48,760 | 250 |
| Iowa City, IA | $48,530 | 190 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $47,100 | 130 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $46,720 | 490 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $46,220 | 340 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $46,210 | 860 |
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 Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,070 | $27.92 |
| Light Truck Driver | $42,750 | $20.56 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $47,120 | $22.65 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $32,580 | $15.66 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $45,890 | $22.06 |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | $36,090 | $17.35 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $48,300 | $23.22 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $43,490 | $20.91 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,640 | $17.62 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,590 | $22.88 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,490 | $29.08 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,920 | $17.27 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,470 | $18.02 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $49,850 | $23.97 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
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 Iowa?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in Iowa is $46,320 a year, or $22.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Iowa?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in Iowa earn at least $63,200 a year. The top 25% earn $56,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,440 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $39,330 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Iowa?
About 4,840 bus drivers, school are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.