Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for bus drivers, transit and intercity in the U.S. is $59,050 ($28.39 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $59,050
- Mean annual wage
- $60,280
- Median hourly wage
- $28.39
- Employment
- 159,240
159,240 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,030 | $19.25 |
| 25th percentile | $47,530 | $22.85 |
| Median (50th) | $59,050 | $28.39 |
| 75th percentile | $70,700 | $33.99 |
| 90th percentile | $84,700 | $40.72 |
Highest-paying states for bus drivers, transit and intercity
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $84,480 | 16,770 |
| Washington | $72,280 | 6,960 |
| Hawaii | $68,500 | 2,190 |
| California | $67,130 | 24,380 |
| Oregon | $65,510 | 2,620 |
| Massachusetts | $65,460 | 3,970 |
| Maryland | $65,220 | 4,890 |
| Illinois | $65,200 | 8,650 |
| Alaska | $64,150 | 250 |
| Colorado | $63,010 | 3,540 |
Lowest-paying states
- Arkansas: $37,520 median annual wage
- Alabama: $37,700 median annual wage
- Mississippi: $38,570 median annual wage
- West Virginia: $39,260 median annual wage
- Kansas: $41,340 median annual wage
About this occupation
Drive bus or motor coach, including regular route operations, charters, and private carriage. May assist passengers with baggage. May collect fares or tickets.
Typical tasks
- Inspect vehicles and check gas, oil, and water levels prior to departure.
- Advise passengers to be seated and orderly while on vehicles.
- Drive vehicles over specified routes or to specified destinations according to time schedules, complying with traffic regulations to ensure that passengers have a smooth and safe ride.
- Maintain cleanliness of bus or motor coach.
- Assist passengers, such as elderly or individuals with disabilities, on and off bus, ensure they are seated properly, help carry baggage, and answer questions about bus schedules or routes.
- Announce stops to passengers.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 9.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 42.3% |
| Some college, no degree | 27.0% |
| Associate's degree | 10.0% |
| Bachelor's degree | 8.9% |
| Master's degree | 2.0% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.5% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40,240
- Stockers and Order Fillers$37,330
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,640
- Light Truck Drivers$44,860
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$46,420
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,890
- Packers and Packagers, Hand$36,280
- Driver/Sales Workers$38,770
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.