Bus Drivers, School salary in Madison, WI
Bus Drivers, School in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $48,450 a year ($23.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 790 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,780 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $47,920. Pay here is 1% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $47,760. There are 1.9 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $50,860, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,880 | $19.17 |
| 25th percentile | $47,560 | $22.87 |
| Median | $48,450 | $23.30 |
| 75th percentile | $55,230 | $26.55 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,780 | $30.18 |
| Average (mean) | $50,860 | $24.45 |
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 | $4,037.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,018.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,863.46 |
| Weekly | $931.73 |
| Hourly | $23.30 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sheboygan, WI | $55,290 | 100 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $52,670 | 190 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $50,240 | 8,070 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $48,290 | 1,880 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $47,360 | 270 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $46,840 | 240 |
| Appleton, WI | $46,790 | 230 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $46,780 | 380 |
| Green Bay, WI | $46,610 | 440 |
| Wausau, WI | $46,200 | 240 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $45,950 | 320 |
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 Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,700 | $28.70 |
| Light Truck Driver | $46,120 | $22.17 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $35,040 | $16.85 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $36,420 | $17.51 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $33,970 | $16.33 |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | $49,270 | $23.69 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,190 | $21.25 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,710 | $17.65 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $64,420 | $30.97 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,560 | $17.58 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,950 | $17.28 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,610 | $22.89 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $35,480 | $17.06 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in the Madison, WI metro area is $48,450 a year, or $23.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $62,780 a year. The top 25% earn $55,230 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,880 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $47,560 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Madison, WI?
About 790 bus drivers, school are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.