Bus Drivers, School salary in Kentucky
Bus Drivers, School in Kentucky earn a median of $44,830 a year ($21.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,820 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,470 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $47,920. Kentucky ranks 38th of 51 states for bus drivers, school pay. There are 3.4 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $46,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,760 | $17.67 |
| 25th percentile | $38,530 | $18.52 |
| Median | $44,830 | $21.55 |
| 75th percentile | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,470 | $30.51 |
| Average (mean) | $46,600 | $22.40 |
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 | $3,735.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,867.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,724.23 |
| Weekly | $862.12 |
| Hourly | $21.55 |
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 Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $55,640 | 1,780 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $52,260 | 680 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $48,110 | 270 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $46,870 | 2,530 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $45,250 | 360 |
| Owensboro, KY | $44,560 | 160 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $37,750 | 130 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $34,050 | 520 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $26,620 | 410 |
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 Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,340 | $27.09 |
| Light Truck Driver | $43,230 | $20.78 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $33,580 | $16.14 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $54,550 | $26.22 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $23,870 | $11.48 |
| Taxi Driver | $33,850 | $16.28 |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | $32,850 | $15.79 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,770 | $20.56 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,090 | $28.89 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $350,950 | — |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,850 | $17.72 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in Kentucky is $44,830 a year, or $21.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in Kentucky earn at least $63,470 a year. The top 25% earn $48,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,760 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $38,530 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Kentucky?
About 6,820 bus drivers, school are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.