Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary in California
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in California earn a median of $67,130 a year ($32.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 24,380 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,810 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $59,050. California ranks 4th of 51 states for bus drivers, transit and intercity pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 1.3 bus drivers, transit and intercity per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $66,930, close to the median.
Pay range for bus drivers, transit and intercity in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,600 | $23.37 |
| 25th percentile | $55,540 | $26.70 |
| Median | $67,130 | $32.27 |
| 75th percentile | $76,920 | $36.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $90,810 | $43.66 |
| Average (mean) | $66,930 | $32.18 |
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 period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,594.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,797.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,581.92 |
| Weekly | $1,290.96 |
| Hourly | $32.27 |
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 in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $78,900 | 5,540 |
| Salinas, CA | $71,290 | 180 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $70,680 | 810 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $68,020 | 10,140 |
| Fresno, CA | $62,170 | n/a |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $61,290 | 1,720 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $60,320 | 180 |
| Napa, CA | $59,560 | 170 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $57,780 | 370 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $56,940 | 1,550 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $54,140 | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $53,560 | 190 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $49,000 | 330 |
Highest-paying states for bus drivers, transit and intercity
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $84,480 |
| Washington | $72,280 |
| Hawaii | $68,500 |
| California | $67,130 |
| Oregon | $65,510 |
| Massachusetts | $65,460 |
| Maryland | $65,220 |
| Illinois | $65,200 |
| Alaska | $64,150 |
| Colorado | $63,010 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Light Truck Driver | $46,790 | $22.50 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $45,600 | $21.92 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $44,730 | $21.50 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $61,040 | $29.35 |
| Taxi Driver | $39,260 | $18.88 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $45,050 | $21.66 |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | $36,150 | $17.38 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,710 | $21.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $42,870 | $20.61 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,770 | $22.97 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $65,550 | $31.51 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $37,920 | $18.23 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for bus drivers, transit and intercity in California is $67,130 a year, or $32.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, transit and intercity make in California?
The top 10% of bus drivers, transit and intercity in California earn at least $90,810 a year. The top 25% earn $76,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, transit and intercity in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,600 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, transit and intercity earn $55,540 or less.
How many bus drivers, transit and intercity work in California?
About 24,380 bus drivers, transit and intercity are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.