Bus Drivers, School salary in Montana
Bus Drivers, School in Montana earn a median of $46,220 a year ($22.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,630 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,870 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $47,920. Montana ranks 30th of 51 states for bus drivers, school pay. There are 3.2 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $46,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Montana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,120 | $17.36 |
| 25th percentile | $39,840 | $19.15 |
| Median | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| 75th percentile | $48,620 | $23.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,870 | $27.82 |
| Average (mean) | $46,780 | $22.49 |
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 | $3,851.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,925.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,777.69 |
| Weekly | $888.85 |
| Hourly | $22.22 |
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 Montana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Helena, MT | $56,760 | 120 |
| Missoula, MT | $46,650 | 180 |
| Bozeman, MT | $46,510 | 110 |
| Billings, MT | $46,220 | 180 |
| Great Falls, MT | $41,910 | 120 |
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 Montana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,870 | $28.30 |
| Light Truck Driver | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $27,580 | $13.26 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $41,860 | $20.12 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $36,620 | $17.61 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $45,640 | $21.94 |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | $36,050 | $17.33 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $39,050 | $18.77 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $43,840 | $21.08 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,670 | $29.17 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $36,510 | $17.55 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $48,060 | $23.10 |
| Locomotive Engineer | $90,220 | $43.38 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Montana
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 Montana?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in Montana is $46,220 a year, or $22.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Montana?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in Montana earn at least $57,870 a year. The top 25% earn $48,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Montana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,120 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $39,840 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Montana?
About 1,630 bus drivers, school are employed in Montana, not counting the self-employed.