Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Bus drivers, school (SOC 53-3051) employed 402,930 people in May 2025. The median pay is $47,920 a year ($23.04 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $29,240 and the highest-paid 10% more than $65,730. BLS projects its employment to change by +0.7% between 2025 and 2035 (about 56,500 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest median pay: Massachusetts ($65,170), Washington ($63,370), Connecticut ($61,520). Most jobs: New York (38,320), Texas (37,550), Pennsylvania (23,670).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,240 | $14.06 |
| 25th percentile | $38,650 | $18.58 |
| Median | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| Mean | $48,430 | $23.28 |
| 75th percentile | $58,430 | $28.09 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $65,730 | $31.60 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 396,800 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 399,700 |
| Change in jobs | 2,900 |
| Percent change | +0.7% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 56,500 |
| Self-employed share | 0.1% |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 10,410 | 1.90 | $17,630 | $16,560 | $21,580 | -63% | 73% |
| Alaska | 790 | 0.93 | $54,200 | $36,470 | $59,910 | +13% | 32% |
| Arizona | 5,020 | 0.60 | $46,050 | $37,370 | $52,870 | -4% | 44% |
| Arkansas | 4,340 | 1.28 | $45,500 | $24,080 | $63,300 | -5% | 26% |
| California | 16,600 | 0.35 | $61,040 | $45,870 | $73,680 | +27% | 41% |
| Colorado | 3,840 | 0.52 | $52,620 | $40,640 | $70,540 | +10% | 42% |
| Connecticut | 7,970 | 1.81 | $61,520 | $45,830 | $65,090 | +28% | 30% |
| Delaware | 1,350 | 1.08 | $42,390 | $36,380 | $60,910 | -12% | 43% |
| District of Columbia | 510 | 0.28 | $55,450 | $51,850 | $55,480 | +16% | 42% |
| Florida | 13,470 | 0.52 | $44,690 | $35,510 | $54,840 | -7% | 49% |
| Georgia | 16,880 | 1.33 | $44,950 | $20,740 | $62,060 | -6% | 40% |
| Hawaii | 630 | 0.39 | $59,090 | $45,760 | $73,970 | +23% | 39% |
| Idaho | 2,960 | 1.33 | $46,250 | $36,380 | $56,410 | -3% | 36% |
| Illinois | 21,230 | 1.34 | $49,090 | $38,310 | $62,560 | +2% | 32% |
| Indiana | 11,780 | 1.42 | $48,020 | $22,900 | $65,240 | +0% | 28% |
| Iowa | 4,840 | 1.20 | $46,320 | $28,440 | $63,200 | -3% | 25% |
| Kansas | 4,830 | 1.30 | $45,860 | $33,570 | $55,810 | -4% | 28% |
| Kentucky | 6,820 | 1.31 | $44,830 | $36,760 | $63,470 | -6% | 27% |
| Louisiana | 6,670 | 1.33 | $29,450 | $21,000 | $50,750 | -39% | 43% |
| Maine | 1,670 | 1.00 | $48,640 | $39,050 | $58,590 | +2% | 30% |
| Maryland | 9,020 | 1.26 | $56,450 | $38,280 | $63,950 | +18% | 37% |
| Massachusetts | 9,330 | 0.99 | $65,170 | $44,530 | $71,980 | +36% | 34% |
| Michigan | 8,780 | 0.77 | $46,380 | $37,860 | $54,500 | -3% | 30% |
| Minnesota | 13,110 | 1.72 | $48,940 | $36,580 | $62,170 | +2% | 32% |
| Mississippi | 3,790 | 1.26 | $30,640 | $18,680 | $47,300 | -36% | 39% |
| Missouri | 8,970 | 1.18 | $46,880 | $33,980 | $58,730 | -2% | 27% |
| Montana | 1,630 | 1.23 | $46,220 | $36,120 | $57,870 | -4% | 31% |
| Nebraska | 2,330 | 0.88 | $47,760 | $36,800 | $58,340 | -0% | 28% |
| Nevada | 2,590 | 0.65 | $37,280 | $37,280 | $50,310 | -22% | 55% |
| New Hampshire | 2,040 | 1.15 | $50,990 | $36,030 | $60,650 | +6% | 37% |
| New Jersey | 13,670 | 1.23 | $59,430 | $46,640 | $71,520 | +24% | 36% |
| New Mexico | 1,870 | 0.83 | $45,470 | $31,020 | $65,140 | -5% | 29% |
| New York | 38,320 | 1.53 | $56,640 | $46,270 | $76,070 | +18% | 35% |
| North Carolina | 12,390 | 0.97 | $37,460 | $32,270 | $46,960 | -22% | 43% |
| North Dakota | 1,530 | 1.38 | $50,790 | $43,780 | $81,220 | +6% | 23% |
| Ohio | 5,540 | 0.39 | $45,860 | $30,100 | $60,070 | -4% | 29% |
| Oklahoma | 3,710 | 0.84 | $36,920 | $20,850 | $48,110 | -23% | 34% |
| Oregon | 5,210 | 1.02 | $51,270 | $45,830 | $67,260 | +7% | 37% |
| Pennsylvania | 23,670 | 1.51 | $47,530 | $34,950 | $60,660 | -1% | 32% |
| Rhode Island | 1,800 | 1.38 | $58,700 | $47,780 | $67,180 | +22% | 29% |
| South Carolina | 5,900 | 0.99 | $39,900 | $23,640 | $57,150 | -17% | 38% |
| South Dakota | 1,290 | 1.09 | $39,730 | $33,480 | $50,530 | -17% | 30% |
| Tennessee | 7,050 | 0.83 | $44,510 | $22,900 | $61,600 | -7% | 35% |
| Texas | 37,550 | 1.03 | $44,490 | $23,690 | $60,740 | -7% | 40% |
| Utah | 1,920 | 0.43 | $52,890 | $37,010 | $69,110 | +10% | 36% |
| Vermont | 860 | 1.09 | $56,580 | $39,840 | $61,970 | +18% | 28% |
| Virginia | 12,930 | 1.21 | $50,190 | $38,830 | $67,060 | +5% | 39% |
| Washington | 9,660 | 1.05 | $63,370 | $49,670 | $75,530 | +32% | 35% |
| West Virginia | 4,690 | 2.58 | $33,360 | $29,610 | $36,670 | -30% | 32% |
| Wisconsin | 7,840 | 1.03 | $47,760 | $38,930 | $62,780 | -0% | 29% |
| Wyoming | 1,360 | 1.87 | $45,520 | $38,830 | $56,130 | -5% | 26% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 610 | $75,230 | $57,420 | $84,550 | 0.21 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 2,350 | $73,680 | $56,710 | $80,840 | 0.38 |
| Bellingham, WA | 300 | $69,640 | $58,130 | $71,810 | 1.25 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 330 | $66,880 | $56,160 | $72,340 | 1.35 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 4,070 | $66,380 | $58,010 | $76,720 | 0.75 |
| Springfield, MA | 770 | $65,730 | $47,470 | $67,620 | 1.49 |
| Worcester, MA | 1,270 | $65,640 | $45,110 | $69,000 | 1.40 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 6,470 | $65,170 | $44,580 | $72,480 | 0.92 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 1,760 | $63,710 | $48,290 | $69,660 | 1.68 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 720 | $63,400 | $46,290 | $74,700 | 1.16 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2,850 | $62,190 | $50,140 | $71,470 | 0.91 |
| New Haven, CT | 1,460 | $62,160 | $46,810 | $63,650 | 2.00 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 2,980 | $61,900 | $42,780 | $72,170 | 0.67 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 380 | $61,720 | $47,120 | $73,220 | 0.46 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 4,090 | $61,580 | $48,040 | $72,360 | 0.25 |
| Merced, CA | 300 | $61,580 | $40,770 | $71,540 | 1.44 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 2,680 | $61,560 | $45,870 | $63,860 | 1.73 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 930 | $61,550 | $45,080 | $63,270 | 2.24 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 300 | $61,220 | $47,750 | $74,320 | 0.26 |
| Boulder, CO | 310 | $60,950 | $59,310 | $70,740 | 0.62 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 450 | $60,460 | $49,610 | $70,000 | 1.35 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,160 | $60,440 | $48,190 | $70,570 | 0.29 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 350 | $60,420 | $48,150 | $70,490 | 0.68 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 600 | $60,390 | $39,980 | $72,110 | 0.21 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,540 | $59,990 | $45,770 | $73,210 | 0.37 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 29,280 | $59,790 | $47,620 | $77,550 | 1.19 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 2,040 | $59,610 | $46,180 | $69,880 | 2.92 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 2,690 | $59,320 | $47,750 | $67,180 | 1.45 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 510 | $59,310 | $45,320 | $62,240 | 1.56 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 3,120 | $57,850 | $47,740 | $59,710 | 0.89 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 8,620 | $57,610 | $38,280 | $74,150 | 1.06 |
| Syracuse, NY | 1,730 | $57,590 | $42,810 | $76,630 | 2.23 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 410 | $57,440 | $39,890 | $68,290 | 0.94 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | 350 | $56,790 | $44,870 | $69,360 | 0.44 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 540 | $55,990 | $46,590 | $68,150 | 2.97 |
| Lincoln, NE | 310 | $55,760 | $39,550 | $56,850 | 0.66 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 1,780 | $55,640 | $38,990 | $75,990 | 1.00 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 450 | $53,750 | $49,480 | $66,670 | 1.35 |
| Anchorage, AK | 440 | $52,930 | $42,420 | $54,750 | 0.96 |
| Ogden, UT | 340 | $52,890 | $38,560 | $61,250 | 0.49 |
| Fresno, CA | 750 | $52,650 | $34,380 | $60,480 | 0.60 |
| Yakima, WA | 550 | $52,480 | $37,270 | $62,930 | 2.20 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 680 | $52,260 | $46,050 | $64,100 | 0.91 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 770 | $52,250 | $33,560 | $61,910 | 0.36 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 8,980 | $51,960 | $39,450 | $65,460 | 1.20 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 420 | $51,910 | $43,780 | $61,130 | 0.57 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 470 | $51,880 | $42,500 | $62,210 | 0.54 |
| Rochester, NY | 3,080 | $51,780 | $45,870 | $59,080 | 2.41 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 1,880 | $51,600 | $23,550 | $66,150 | 0.66 |
| Salem, OR | 790 | $51,570 | $47,610 | $58,580 | 1.62 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 2,940 | $51,500 | $45,730 | $62,120 | 2.13 |
| Kingston, NY | 450 | $51,250 | $46,380 | $68,190 | 2.91 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 1,390 | $50,850 | $38,380 | $59,730 | 1.07 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 1,700 | $50,300 | $46,550 | $60,680 | 1.46 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 8,070 | $50,240 | $37,920 | $67,380 | 1.60 |
| Glens Falls, NY | 300 | $50,200 | $36,320 | $61,310 | 2.34 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 2,390 | $50,190 | $40,480 | $62,200 | 1.21 |
| Monroe, LA | 450 | $50,060 | $30,150 | $54,390 | 1.98 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 610 | $50,040 | $45,440 | $63,230 | 0.91 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 4,020 | $49,890 | $24,430 | $65,350 | 1.40 |
The median is $47,920 a year ($23.04 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $29,240 and the highest-paid tenth over $65,730 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
402,930 in May 2025, and BLS projects +0.7% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
Massachusetts, with a median of $65,170 (among states with published figures).