Bus Drivers, School salary in Minnesota
Bus Drivers, School in Minnesota earn a median of $48,940 a year ($23.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,110 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,170 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $47,920. Minnesota ranks 20th of 51 states for bus drivers, school pay. There are 4.4 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $49,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Minnesota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| 25th percentile | $38,800 | $18.65 |
| Median | $48,940 | $23.53 |
| 75th percentile | $55,930 | $26.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,170 | $29.89 |
| Average (mean) | $49,310 | $23.71 |
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 | $4,078.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,039.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,882.31 |
| Weekly | $941.15 |
| Hourly | $23.53 |
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 Minnesota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $53,270 | 80 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $52,670 | 190 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $50,240 | 8,070 |
| Rochester, MN | $48,660 | 510 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $48,160 | 460 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $46,840 | 470 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $46,780 | 380 |
| Mankato, MN | $46,580 | 450 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $39,690 | 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 |
Related jobs in Minnesota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $61,990 | $29.80 |
| Light Truck Driver | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $32,980 | $15.86 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $39,810 | $19.14 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $50,200 | $24.13 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $34,670 | $16.67 |
| Taxi Driver | $35,710 | $17.17 |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | $32,670 | $15.71 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $46,280 | $22.25 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,120 | $17.85 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $68,430 | $32.90 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $49,740 | $23.91 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $40,310 | $19.38 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $37,580 | $18.07 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Minnesota
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 Minnesota?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in Minnesota is $48,940 a year, or $23.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Minnesota?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in Minnesota earn at least $62,170 a year. The top 25% earn $55,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Minnesota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,580 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $38,800 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Minnesota?
About 13,110 bus drivers, school are employed in Minnesota, not counting the self-employed.