Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Bus drivers, school play a key role in getting students to and from educational programs safely and reliably. National employment is about 387,000, indicating a large workforce in this occupation. The national median annual salary is $47,040, with some states and metro areas offering higher typical pay. Projected employment growth of 0.2% suggests employment levels are expected to be relatively stable. At the same time, employers anticipate about 61,000 annual openings, which reflects ongoing hiring needs. The work draws on a combination of fine motor skills, customer service, attention to detail, interpersonal strengths, mechanical awareness, physical strength and stamina, adaptability, communication, problem solving, and literacy. People considering this field can also look at related careers such as school bus monitors and other motor vehicle operator roles. Overall, this path offers a blend of people-focused and hands-on work for those who meet the education and skill expectations.
For school bus drivers, the national median annual salary is $47,040, but pay varies by location. Several states stand out with higher median salaries, including Massachusetts at $65,170, Washington at $63,370, and California at $61,040. New York and Colorado also exceed the national median, at $56,640 and $52,620 respectively. At the metro level, typical pay can be even higher. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA shows a median salary of $75,230, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports $73,680. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH has a median salary of $65,170, while the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metros list $59,790 and $57,610. These figures suggest that earnings for school bus drivers can differ significantly by state and metro area.
School bus drivers have national employment of about 387,000, pointing to a sizable presence in the labor market. Projected employment growth is 0.2%, indicating expectations for employment levels to remain relatively steady over the projection period. Although growth is modest, the occupation is expected to have about 61,000 annual openings. This combination of stable overall employment and a large number of openings suggests ongoing turnover and hiring activity. The CareerGPS opportunity scores in the top states and metros also indicate that some areas may present particularly notable conditions for this occupation, though all listed locations share the same 0.2% projected growth rate. For individuals planning their careers, the outlook suggests that while major expansion is not projected, there should continue to be regular opportunities to enter or move within the field in many parts of the country.
Location makes a clear difference for school bus drivers. Among states, California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington rank highest by CareerGPS opportunity score. Massachusetts and Washington show some of the highest median salaries, at $65,170 and $63,370, while California combines a higher median salary of $61,040 with relatively high employment of 16,600. New York stands out for its 38,320 employed school bus drivers, the largest employment figure among the top states, with a median salary of $56,640. Colorado has lower employment at 3,840 but still offers a median salary of $52,620. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA leads with an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $75,230. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro also has a high opportunity score of 77.27 and the largest metro employment at 29,280. Other strong metros include San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH.
The typical education level for school bus drivers is a high school diploma or equivalent. Beyond formal education, this occupation draws on a broad set of skills. Fine motor skills and mechanical awareness support the safe operation and basic understanding of vehicles. Customer service, interpersonal skills, and speaking and listening are important for interacting effectively with students and other members of the school community. Being detail oriented, adaptable, and strong in problem solving and decision making helps drivers respond appropriately to day-to-day situations. Physical strength and stamina are also part of the skill profile. Writing and reading skills support tasks that require understanding and completing written information. Individuals with this combination of education and skills may find school bus driving a fitting option and can also explore related occupations, including school bus monitors, bus drivers for transit and intercity routes, shuttle drivers and chauffeurs, taxi drivers, and other motor vehicle operator roles.
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