Bus Drivers, School salary in Rockford, IL
Bus Drivers, School in the Rockford, IL metro area earn a median of $45,560 a year ($21.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 460 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,490 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $47,920. Pay here is 7% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $49,090. There are 3.4 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $44,730, close to the median.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Rockford, IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| 25th percentile | $39,760 | $19.11 |
| Median | $45,560 | $21.91 |
| 75th percentile | $47,940 | $23.05 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,490 | $28.12 |
| Average (mean) | $44,730 | $21.50 |
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 | $3,796.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,898.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,752.31 |
| Weekly | $876.15 |
| Hourly | $21.91 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Decatur, IL | $54,830 | n/a |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49,180 | 15,210 |
| Peoria, IL | $48,100 | 620 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $48,100 | 4,470 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $47,550 | 70 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $46,720 | 490 |
| Springfield, IL | $46,450 | 370 |
| Bloomington, IL | $45,500 | 280 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $45,240 | 280 |
| Kankakee, IL | $44,870 | 160 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $37,750 | 130 |
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 Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Rockford, IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,900 | $28.80 |
| Light Truck Driver | $48,240 | $23.19 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $34,180 | $16.43 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $48,200 | $23.17 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $35,290 | $16.97 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,200 | $21.25 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,020 | $17.32 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $45,290 | $21.77 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $59,940 | $28.82 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $34,830 | $16.74 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $34,480 | $16.58 |
| Parking Attendant | $34,110 | $16.40 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $49,400 | $23.75 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Rockford, IL
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 Rockford, IL?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in the Rockford, IL metro area is $45,560 a year, or $21.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Rockford, IL?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in the Rockford, IL metro area earn at least $58,490 a year. The top 25% earn $47,940 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Rockford, IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,840 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $39,760 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Rockford, IL?
About 460 bus drivers, school are employed in the Rockford, IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.