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, transit and intercity (SOC 53-3052) employed 159,240 people in May 2025. The median pay is $59,050 a year ($28.39 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $40,030 and the highest-paid 10% more than $84,700. BLS projects its employment to change by +4.1% between 2025 and 2035 (about 21,100 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest median pay: New York ($84,480), Washington ($72,280), Hawaii ($68,500). Most jobs: California (24,380), New York (16,770), Texas (11,600).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,030 | $19.25 |
| 25th percentile | $47,530 | $22.85 |
| Median | $59,050 | $28.39 |
| Mean | $60,280 | $28.98 |
| 75th percentile | $70,700 | $33.99 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $84,700 | $40.72 |
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 | 166,400 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 173,300 |
| Change in jobs | 6,900 |
| Percent change | +4.1% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 21,100 |
| Self-employed share | 1.7% |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-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 | 960 | 0.44 | $37,700 | $29,640 | $46,680 | -36% | 34% |
| Alaska | 250 | 0.75 | $64,150 | $46,960 | $76,230 | +9% | 27% |
| Arizona | 3,240 | 0.98 | $53,870 | $39,350 | $72,140 | -9% | 37% |
| Arkansas | 570 | 0.43 | $37,520 | $29,550 | $56,140 | -36% | 31% |
| California | 24,380 | 1.31 | $67,130 | $48,600 | $90,810 | +14% | 38% |
| Colorado | 3,540 | 1.20 | $63,010 | $50,870 | $71,090 | +7% | 35% |
| Connecticut | 1,830 | 1.05 | $60,100 | $44,130 | $75,040 | +2% | 31% |
| Delaware | 380 | 0.77 | $60,510 | $39,390 | $65,710 | +2% | 30% |
| District of Columbia | 150 | 0.20 | $55,580 | $50,070 | $58,390 | -6% | 42% |
| Florida | 9,130 | 0.90 | $48,300 | $37,070 | $71,380 | -18% | 45% |
| Georgia | 3,700 | 0.74 | $45,500 | $37,310 | $57,940 | -23% | 40% |
| Hawaii | 2,190 | 3.41 | $68,500 | $46,870 | $68,500 | +16% | 34% |
| Idaho | 520 | 0.60 | $49,000 | $39,460 | $62,530 | -17% | 34% |
| Illinois | 8,650 | 1.38 | $65,200 | $47,270 | $85,990 | +10% | 24% |
| Indiana | 2,130 | 0.65 | $58,410 | $45,380 | $62,970 | -1% | 23% |
| Iowa | 1,560 | 0.98 | $45,890 | $35,520 | $60,730 | -22% | 26% |
| Kansas | 430 | 0.29 | $41,340 | $29,290 | $50,800 | -30% | 31% |
| Kentucky | 2,570 | 1.26 | $54,550 | $32,020 | $61,590 | -8% | 22% |
| Louisiana | 1,490 | 0.75 | $48,860 | $33,360 | $64,660 | -17% | 26% |
| Maine | 470 | 0.71 | $57,870 | $45,180 | $63,360 | -2% | 25% |
| Maryland | 4,890 | 1.73 | $65,220 | $46,770 | $92,320 | +10% | 32% |
| Massachusetts | 3,970 | 1.07 | $65,460 | $50,380 | $93,500 | +11% | 34% |
| Michigan | 3,620 | 0.80 | $47,660 | $38,020 | $65,710 | -19% | 29% |
| Minnesota | 2,610 | 0.86 | $50,200 | $43,430 | $62,480 | -15% | 31% |
| Mississippi | 400 | 0.33 | $38,570 | $30,210 | $44,630 | -35% | 31% |
| Missouri | 1,860 | 0.62 | $60,660 | $39,030 | $67,040 | +3% | 21% |
| Montana | 450 | 0.85 | $45,640 | $38,920 | $57,380 | -23% | 31% |
| Nebraska | 460 | 0.44 | $45,120 | $32,850 | $61,120 | -24% | 29% |
| Nevada | 2,540 | 1.60 | $61,700 | $43,590 | $90,540 | +4% | 33% |
| New Hampshire | 300 | 0.43 | $54,830 | $40,820 | $67,850 | -7% | 34% |
| New Jersey | 6,420 | 1.46 | $61,140 | $48,340 | $70,700 | +4% | 35% |
| New Mexico | 580 | 0.66 | $45,610 | $35,460 | $48,350 | -23% | 29% |
| New York | 16,770 | 1.69 | $84,480 | $57,610 | $84,700 | +43% | 23% |
| North Carolina | 2,900 | 0.57 | $44,060 | $35,610 | $57,330 | -25% | 36% |
| North Dakota | 250 | 0.57 | $48,890 | $39,040 | $56,840 | -17% | 24% |
| Ohio | 4,000 | 0.70 | $62,760 | $40,660 | $74,270 | +6% | 21% |
| Oklahoma | 1,760 | 1.01 | $50,300 | $37,380 | $65,400 | -15% | 25% |
| Oregon | 2,620 | 1.30 | $65,510 | $47,100 | $81,110 | +11% | 29% |
| Pennsylvania | 4,710 | 0.76 | $51,360 | $37,860 | $76,560 | -13% | 29% |
| Rhode Island | 70 | 0.13 | $48,610 | $44,550 | $64,600 | -18% | 35% |
| South Carolina | 630 | 0.27 | $43,330 | $29,740 | $49,140 | -27% | 35% |
| South Dakota | 410 | 0.88 | $41,590 | $29,670 | $48,430 | -30% | 29% |
| Tennessee | 1,970 | 0.59 | $47,770 | $39,530 | $58,900 | -19% | 32% |
| Texas | 11,600 | 0.81 | $48,740 | $37,290 | $64,890 | -17% | 36% |
| Utah | 1,230 | 0.69 | $50,730 | $41,600 | $60,250 | -14% | 38% |
| Vermont | 440 | 1.42 | $53,830 | $46,910 | $62,630 | -9% | 29% |
| Virginia | 3,800 | 0.90 | $52,940 | $39,430 | $76,170 | -10% | 37% |
| Washington | 6,960 | 1.92 | $72,280 | $55,520 | $93,180 | +22% | 30% |
| West Virginia | 520 | 0.72 | $39,260 | $30,710 | $49,430 | -34% | 27% |
| Wisconsin | 2,220 | 0.74 | $52,660 | $43,740 | $63,810 | -11% | 26% |
| Wyoming | 130 | 0.44 | $45,630 | $39,740 | $62,940 | -23% | 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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 2,180 | $90,460 | $43,590 | $90,540 | 1.87 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 4,430 | $83,430 | $59,750 | $93,180 | 2.07 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2,130 | $80,170 | $57,600 | $81,110 | 1.72 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 5,540 | $78,900 | $57,980 | $94,940 | 2.28 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 19,770 | $78,130 | $56,560 | $84,700 | 2.03 |
| Columbus, OH | 700 | $73,790 | $45,030 | $73,790 | 0.62 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 300 | $70,700 | $49,480 | $70,700 | 1.73 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 810 | $70,680 | $42,880 | $70,680 | 0.74 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 3,270 | $70,120 | $52,580 | $93,500 | 1.18 |
| Akron, OH | 360 | $70,000 | $40,660 | $70,000 | 1.09 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 1,810 | $68,500 | $47,070 | $68,500 | 3.95 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 10,140 | $68,020 | $48,160 | $81,960 | 1.58 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 2,140 | $66,590 | $52,270 | $68,750 | 1.30 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 4,070 | $65,220 | $50,360 | $92,320 | 1.27 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 7,080 | $65,200 | $52,160 | $85,990 | 1.53 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 380 | $63,010 | $50,450 | $63,010 | 1.16 |
| Rochester, NY | 460 | $62,420 | $46,260 | $78,640 | 0.92 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 960 | $61,470 | $47,700 | $62,710 | 0.85 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 980 | $61,360 | $46,010 | $63,810 | 1.17 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,720 | $61,290 | $49,480 | $70,530 | 1.09 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 420 | $61,250 | $51,840 | $74,030 | 1.62 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 1,130 | $61,100 | $47,420 | $61,590 | 1.61 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 1,110 | $61,080 | $49,720 | $61,140 | 0.81 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 350 | $60,750 | $41,600 | $68,820 | 0.92 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 840 | $60,100 | $43,940 | $75,040 | 1.37 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,410 | $59,720 | $40,230 | $76,560 | 1.24 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 680 | $59,360 | $46,300 | $67,040 | 0.61 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 410 | $59,120 | $46,370 | $75,040 | 0.98 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 340 | $58,490 | $48,410 | $65,940 | 1.23 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 2,420 | $57,800 | $46,770 | $80,190 | 1.75 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 370 | $57,780 | $49,490 | $81,340 | 3.69 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 670 | $57,400 | $42,150 | $65,400 | 0.97 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,500 | $57,050 | $46,010 | $62,480 | 0.75 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,180 | $57,020 | $45,620 | $96,000 | 0.90 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,550 | $56,940 | $44,590 | $69,390 | 0.88 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,280 | $56,120 | $39,310 | $65,100 | 0.55 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 1,060 | $56,110 | $40,000 | $65,390 | 0.94 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,830 | $53,020 | $42,250 | $70,700 | 0.62 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 460 | $53,020 | $48,740 | $70,700 | 1.89 |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,510 | $52,610 | $45,320 | $74,270 | 1.43 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 1,160 | $52,100 | $39,950 | $65,360 | 1.03 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 1,820 | $51,790 | $35,140 | $64,880 | 1.26 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 390 | $51,010 | $40,350 | $81,150 | 3.62 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 510 | $50,900 | $40,050 | $50,900 | 0.82 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 1,270 | $50,880 | $38,170 | $61,440 | 1.10 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 550 | $50,730 | $41,600 | $58,620 | 0.65 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 3,400 | $50,430 | $40,030 | $59,050 | 1.01 |
| Richmond, VA | 470 | $50,270 | $46,940 | $64,540 | 0.70 |
| Tulsa, OK | 370 | $49,440 | $42,210 | $62,380 | 0.80 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 330 | $49,000 | $40,190 | $63,300 | 0.96 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 930 | $48,860 | $37,090 | $64,660 | 2.04 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 3,620 | $48,300 | $40,320 | $72,620 | 1.25 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 590 | $48,120 | $36,980 | $61,950 | 0.75 |
| Reno, NV | 330 | $48,080 | $44,720 | $92,880 | 1.18 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 980 | $47,460 | $37,460 | $52,310 | 0.50 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 1,700 | $46,860 | $46,050 | $64,890 | 1.28 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 1,180 | $46,830 | $38,710 | $61,350 | 0.80 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 690 | $46,810 | $39,710 | $60,620 | 0.89 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 410 | $46,800 | $38,670 | $59,480 | 0.54 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 320 | $46,760 | $36,470 | $62,290 | 1.70 |
The median is $59,050 a year ($28.39 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $40,030 and the highest-paid tenth over $84,700 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
159,240 in May 2025, and BLS projects +4.1% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
New York, with a median of $84,480 (among states with published figures).