Bus Drivers, School salary in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
Bus Drivers, School in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area earn a median of $45,900 a year ($22.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 580 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,510 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $47,920. Pay here is 3% higher than the Florida statewide median of $44,690. There are 2.2 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $46,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,040 | $13.00 |
| 25th percentile | $36,590 | $17.59 |
| Median | $45,900 | $22.07 |
| 75th percentile | $57,550 | $27.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,510 | $28.13 |
| Average (mean) | $46,030 | $22.13 |
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 | $3,825 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,912.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,765.38 |
| Weekly | $882.69 |
| Hourly | $22.07 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $49,590 | 300 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $48,240 | 460 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $48,150 | 110 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $47,980 | 130 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $47,180 | 1,680 |
| Gainesville, FL | $47,050 | 370 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $46,630 | 190 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $45,860 | 1,720 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $45,540 | 2,810 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $44,040 | 390 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $43,090 | 360 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $40,120 | 590 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $39,550 | 60 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $39,270 | 390 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $38,790 | 1,600 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $38,320 | 290 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $36,840 | 360 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $33,850 | 150 |
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 Florida statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $57,090 | $27.45 |
| Light Truck Driver | $46,010 | $22.12 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $36,070 | $17.34 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $33,550 | $16.13 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $41,030 | $19.73 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $39,030 | $18.76 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $39,690 | $19.08 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,800 | $20.58 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $48,290 | $23.22 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $32,680 | $15.71 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,130 | $29.87 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $30,850 | $14.83 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $47,040 | $22.62 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $34,740 | $16.70 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
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 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area is $45,900 a year, or $22.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area earn at least $58,510 a year. The top 25% earn $57,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,040 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $36,590 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
About 580 bus drivers, school are employed in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area, not counting the self-employed.