Bus Drivers, School salary in Washington
Bus Drivers, School in Washington earn a median of $63,370 a year ($30.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,660 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,530 for the top 10%. That is 32% higher than the national median of $47,920. Washington ranks 2nd of 51 states for bus drivers, school pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 2.7 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $62,940, close to the median.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,670 | $23.88 |
| 25th percentile | $56,640 | $27.23 |
| Median | $63,370 | $30.47 |
| 75th percentile | $70,890 | $34.08 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,530 | $36.31 |
| Average (mean) | $62,940 | $30.26 |
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 | $5,280.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,640.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,437.31 |
| Weekly | $1,218.65 |
| Hourly | $30.47 |
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 Washington
| 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 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $66,380 | 4,070 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $64,760 | $31.13 |
| Light Truck Driver | $49,070 | $23.59 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $72,280 | $34.75 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $41,570 | $19.98 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $59,730 | $28.72 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $44,620 | $21.45 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $46,190 | $22.21 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $49,910 | $24.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $74,250 | $35.70 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $39,220 | $18.86 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $40,070 | $19.26 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $74,620 | $35.88 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $229,900 | — |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in Washington is $63,370 a year, or $30.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,530 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Washington?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in Washington earn at least $75,530 a year. The top 25% earn $70,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,670 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $56,640 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Washington?
About 9,660 bus drivers, school are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.