Bus Drivers, School salary in Lake Charles, LA
Bus Drivers, School in the Lake Charles, LA metro area earn a median of $39,520 a year ($19.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 370 workers.
Pay ranges from $19,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,380 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $47,920. Pay here is 34% higher than the Louisiana statewide median of $29,450. There are 3.6 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $40,700, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Lake Charles, LA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $19,120 | $9.19 |
| 25th percentile | $23,080 | $11.10 |
| Median | $39,520 | $19.00 |
| 75th percentile | $50,750 | $24.40 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,380 | $30.95 |
| Average (mean) | $40,700 | $19.57 |
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 | $3,293.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,646.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,520 |
| Weekly | $760 |
| Hourly | $19.00 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Monroe, LA | $50,060 | 450 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $47,570 | 1,100 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $33,620 | 370 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $29,510 | 250 |
| Lafayette, LA | $29,130 | 690 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $27,240 | 270 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $24,930 | 1,630 |
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 Louisiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lake Charles, LA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $49,960 | $24.02 |
| Light Truck Driver | $38,210 | $18.37 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $26,560 | $12.77 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $28,860 | $13.88 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $35,740 | $17.18 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $34,690 | $16.68 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $61,390 | $29.51 |
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $38,600 | $18.56 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $43,770 | $21.05 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $27,580 | $13.26 |
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $119,630 | $57.51 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $26,480 | $12.73 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $28,550 | $13.73 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Lake Charles, LA
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 Lake Charles, LA?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in the Lake Charles, LA metro area is $39,520 a year, or $19.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $19,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Lake Charles, LA?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in the Lake Charles, LA metro area earn at least $64,380 a year. The top 25% earn $50,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Lake Charles, LA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $19,120 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $23,080 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Lake Charles, LA?
About 370 bus drivers, school are employed in the Lake Charles, LA metro area, not counting the self-employed.