Bus Drivers, School salary in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
Bus Drivers, School in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area earn a median of $48,290 a year ($23.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 180 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,100 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $47,920. Pay here is 15% lower than the New York statewide median of $56,640. There are 4.6 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $50,190, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,580 | $20.47 |
| 25th percentile | $46,350 | $22.28 |
| Median | $48,290 | $23.22 |
| 75th percentile | $50,760 | $24.40 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,100 | $28.41 |
| Average (mean) | $50,190 | $24.13 |
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 | $4,024.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,012.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,857.31 |
| Weekly | $928.65 |
| Hourly | $23.22 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bus Drivers, School salary in 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 |
| Rochester, NY | $51,780 | 3,080 |
| 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 |
| 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 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,260 | $26.57 |
| Light Truck Driver | $39,010 | $18.76 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $44,930 | $21.60 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $52,520 | $25.25 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $60,620 | $29.15 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $35,290 | $16.97 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,050 | $16.85 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $37,280 | $17.92 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $59,020 | $28.38 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,090 | $22.16 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $51,490 | $24.75 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Watertown-Fort Drum, 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 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area is $48,290 a year, or $23.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area earn at least $59,100 a year. The top 25% earn $50,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,580 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $46,350 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
About 180 bus drivers, school are employed in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.