Bus Drivers, School salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Bus Drivers, School in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $66,380 a year ($31.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,070 workers.
Pay ranges from $58,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,720 for the top 10%. That is 39% higher than the national median of $47,920. Pay here is 5% higher than the Washington statewide median of $63,370. There are 2.0 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $67,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,010 | $27.89 |
| 25th percentile | $62,570 | $30.08 |
| Median | $66,380 | $31.91 |
| 75th percentile | $74,920 | $36.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,720 | $36.89 |
| Average (mean) | $67,350 | $32.38 |
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 | $5,531.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,765.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,553.08 |
| Weekly | $1,276.54 |
| Hourly | $31.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $66,380 salary, see how much house you can afford in Washington at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Bus Drivers, School salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $72,070 | 200 |
| Bellingham, WA | $69,640 | 300 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $66,880 | 330 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $62,190 | 2,850 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $61,730 | 210 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $60,460 | 450 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $56,640 | 170 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $53,750 | 450 |
| Yakima, WA | $52,480 | 550 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $51,840 | 70 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $50,040 | 610 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $45,750 | 80 |
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 Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $71,240 | $34.25 |
| Light Truck Driver | $49,590 | $23.84 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $83,430 | $40.11 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $41,570 | $19.98 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $46,180 | $22.20 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $58,510 | $28.13 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $46,830 | $22.52 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $47,740 | $22.95 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $55,600 | $26.73 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $76,390 | $36.73 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $44,010 | $21.16 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $42,750 | $20.56 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $229,900 | — |
| Parking Attendant | $43,790 | $21.06 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $66,380 a year, or $31.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $58,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $76,720 a year. The top 25% earn $74,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $58,010 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $62,570 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 4,070 bus drivers, school are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.