Home › Transportation and Material Moving Occupations › Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary in the U.S.

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in the U.S. earn a median of $59,050 a year ($28.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 159,240 workers.

Median salary
$59,050
Hourly
$28.39
Average
$60,280
Top 10% earn
$84,700
Workers
159,240

Pay ranges from $40,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,700 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $60,280, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.

Pay range for bus drivers, transit and intercity in the U.S.

$0$90,000
Pay levelYearlyHourly
10th percentile (entry level)$40,030$19.25
25th percentile$47,530$22.85
Median$59,050$28.39
75th percentile$70,700$33.99
90th percentile (top earners)$84,700$40.72
Average (mean)$60,280$28.98

Half of bus drivers, transit and intercity 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 periodAmount
Monthly$4,920.83
Semi-monthly (24 a year)$2,460.42
Biweekly (26 a year)$2,271.15
Weekly$1,135.58
Hourly$28.39

Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary by state

StateMedian salaryWorkers
New York$84,48016,770
Washington$72,2806,960
Hawaii$68,5002,190
California$67,13024,380
Oregon$65,5102,620
Massachusetts$65,4603,970
Maryland$65,2204,890
Illinois$65,2008,650
Alaska$64,150250
Colorado$63,0103,540
Ohio$62,7604,000
Nevada$61,7002,540
New Jersey$61,1406,420
Missouri$60,6601,860
Delaware$60,510380
Connecticut$60,1001,830
Indiana$58,4102,130
Maine$57,870470
District of Columbia$55,580150
New Hampshire$54,830300
Kentucky$54,5502,570
Arizona$53,8703,240
Vermont$53,830440
Virginia$52,9403,800
Wisconsin$52,6602,220
Pennsylvania$51,3604,710
Utah$50,7301,230
Oklahoma$50,3001,760
Minnesota$50,2002,610
Idaho$49,000520
North Dakota$48,890250
Louisiana$48,8601,490
Texas$48,74011,600
Rhode Island$48,61070
Florida$48,3009,130
Tennessee$47,7701,970
Michigan$47,6603,620
Iowa$45,8901,560
Montana$45,640450
Wyoming$45,630130
New Mexico$45,610580
Georgia$45,5003,700
Nebraska$45,120460
North Carolina$44,0602,900
South Carolina$43,330630
South Dakota$41,590410
Kansas$41,340430
West Virginia$39,260520
Mississippi$38,570400
Alabama$37,700960
Arkansas$37,520570
Puerto Rico$32,230510

Best-paying metro areas for bus drivers, transit and intercity

Metro areaMedian salaryWorkers
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV$90,4602,180
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$83,4304,430
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$80,1702,130
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$78,9005,540
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$78,13019,770
Columbus, OH$73,790700
Salinas, CA$71,290180
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ$70,700300
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$70,680810
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$70,1203,270
Akron, OH$70,000360
Urban Honolulu, HI$68,5001,810
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$68,02010,140
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH$67,420270
Boulder, CO$66,840n/a

Metro areas with the most bus drivers, transit and intercity

Metro areaWorkersMedian salary
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ19,770$78,130
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA10,140$68,020
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN7,080$65,200
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA5,540$78,900
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA4,430$83,430
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV4,070$65,220
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL3,620$48,300
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX3,400$50,430
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH3,270$70,120
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA2,590$46,430
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD2,420$57,800
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX2,280$56,120
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV2,180$90,460
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ2,180$57,020
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO2,140$66,590

Related jobs in the U.S.

JobMedian salaryHourly
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,640$28.19
Light Truck Driver$44,860$21.57
Driver/Sales Worker$38,770$18.64
Bus Drivers, School$47,920$23.04
Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$37,290$17.93
Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$37,180$17.87
Taxi Driver$42,100$20.24
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians$35,450$17.04
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40,240$19.35
Stockers and Order Fillers$37,330$17.95
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$46,420$22.32
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,890$30.23
Packers and Packagers, Hand$36,280$17.44
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$35,830$17.23

More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-3052. 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, transit and intercity make in the U.S.?

The median salary for bus drivers, transit and intercity in the U.S. is $59,050 a year, or $28.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,700 for the top 10%.

How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, transit and intercity make in the U.S.?

The top 10% of bus drivers, transit and intercity in the U.S. earn at least $84,700 a year. The top 25% earn $70,700 or more.

What is the starting pay for bus drivers, transit and intercity in the U.S.?

Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,030 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, transit and intercity earn $47,530 or less.

How many bus drivers, transit and intercity work in the U.S.?

About 159,240 bus drivers, transit and intercity are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.