Bus Drivers, School salary in Rhode Island
Bus Drivers, School in Rhode Island earn a median of $58,700 a year ($28.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,800 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $67,180 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $47,920. Rhode Island ranks 7th of 51 states for bus drivers, school pay. There are 3.6 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $56,620, close to the median.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Rhode Island
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,780 | $22.97 |
| 25th percentile | $48,640 | $23.39 |
| Median | $58,700 | $28.22 |
| 75th percentile | $62,010 | $29.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $67,180 | $32.30 |
| Average (mean) | $56,620 | $27.22 |
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 | $4,891.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,445.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,257.69 |
| Weekly | $1,128.85 |
| Hourly | $28.22 |
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 Rhode Island
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $59,320 | 2,690 |
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 Rhode Island
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,190 | $28.94 |
| Light Truck Driver | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $34,230 | $16.46 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $36,300 | $17.45 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $48,610 | $23.37 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $42,530 | $20.45 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $41,690 | $20.05 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $72,750 | $34.98 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $37,340 | $17.95 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Parking Attendant | $34,390 | $16.54 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $55,970 | $26.91 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in Rhode Island is $58,700 a year, or $28.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $67,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Rhode Island?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in Rhode Island earn at least $67,180 a year. The top 25% earn $62,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Rhode Island?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,780 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $48,640 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Rhode Island?
About 1,800 bus drivers, school are employed in Rhode Island, not counting the self-employed.