Bus Drivers, School salary in New Jersey
Bus Drivers, School in New Jersey earn a median of $59,430 a year ($28.57 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,670 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,520 for the top 10%. That is 24% higher than the national median of $47,920. New Jersey ranks 5th of 51 states for bus drivers, school pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. 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 $58,470, close to the median.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,640 | $22.42 |
| 25th percentile | $51,160 | $24.60 |
| Median | $59,430 | $28.57 |
| 75th percentile | $65,240 | $31.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,520 | $34.38 |
| Average (mean) | $58,470 | $28.11 |
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 | $4,952.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,476.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,285.77 |
| Weekly | $1,142.88 |
| Hourly | $28.57 |
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 New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $63,400 | 720 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $59,790 | 29,280 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $57,440 | 410 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $51,960 | 8,980 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $49,770 | 1,100 |
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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $63,570 | $30.56 |
| Light Truck Driver | $46,820 | $22.51 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $39,470 | $18.98 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $61,140 | $29.40 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $50,680 | $24.37 |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $39,540 | $19.01 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $43,840 | $21.08 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,250 | $17.91 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $67,980 | $32.68 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,100 | $22.16 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $35,350 | $17.00 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $37,090 | $17.83 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in New Jersey is $59,430 a year, or $28.57 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in New Jersey earn at least $71,520 a year. The top 25% earn $65,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,640 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $51,160 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in New Jersey?
About 13,670 bus drivers, school are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.