Bus Drivers, School salary in Rochester, NY
Bus Drivers, School in the Rochester, NY metro area earn a median of $51,780 a year ($24.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,080 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,080 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $47,920. Pay here is 9% lower than the New York statewide median of $56,640. There are 6.2 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $52,280, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Rochester, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,870 | $22.05 |
| 25th percentile | $47,490 | $22.83 |
| Median | $51,780 | $24.89 |
| 75th percentile | $57,810 | $27.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,080 | $28.41 |
| Average (mean) | $52,280 | $25.14 |
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 | $4,315 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,157.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,991.54 |
| Weekly | $995.77 |
| Hourly | $24.89 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $59,790 | 29,280 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $59,610 | 2,040 |
| Syracuse, NY | $57,590 | 1,730 |
| Ithaca, NY | $54,620 | 220 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $51,500 | 2,940 |
| Kingston, NY | $51,250 | 450 |
| Elmira, NY | $50,370 | 190 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $50,300 | 1,700 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $50,200 | 300 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $48,300 | 720 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $48,290 | 180 |
| Binghamton, NY | $46,270 | 540 |
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 New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Rochester, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,920 | $28.33 |
| Light Truck Driver | $42,090 | $20.23 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $36,220 | $17.42 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $44,760 | $21.52 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $62,420 | $30.01 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $35,080 | $16.87 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,940 | $18.24 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,050 | $19.26 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,740 | $30.16 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,210 | $22.70 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $35,180 | $16.91 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $37,680 | $18.12 |
| Parking Attendant | $34,800 | $16.73 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Rochester, NY
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 Rochester, NY?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in the Rochester, NY metro area is $51,780 a year, or $24.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Rochester, NY?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in the Rochester, NY metro area earn at least $59,080 a year. The top 25% earn $57,810 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Rochester, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,870 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $47,490 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Rochester, NY?
About 3,080 bus drivers, school are employed in the Rochester, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.