Bus Driver salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A bus driver earns a median of $47,920 a year ($23.04 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $48,430. About 402,930 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $47,920
- Gross pay
- $1,843.08
- Federal income tax
- −$137.32
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$114.27
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$26.72
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,564.76
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $47,920
- Federal
- $3,570
- FICA
- $3,666
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $40,684
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Bus Driver salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $65,170 | $61,210 | 9,330 |
| Washington | $63,370 | $62,940 | 9,660 |
| Connecticut | $61,520 | $56,240 | 7,970 |
| California | $61,040 | $60,520 | 16,600 |
| New Jersey | $59,430 | $58,470 | 13,670 |
| Hawaii | $59,090 | $57,920 | 630 |
| Rhode Island | $58,700 | $56,620 | 1,800 |
| New York | $56,640 | $57,140 | 38,320 |
| Vermont | $56,580 | $52,470 | 860 |
| Maryland | $56,450 | $54,000 | 9,020 |
| District of Columbia | $55,450 | $54,630 | 510 |
| Alaska | $54,200 | $51,820 | 790 |
| Utah | $52,890 | $53,430 | 1,920 |
| Colorado | $52,620 | $54,770 | 3,840 |
| Oregon | $51,270 | $55,260 | 5,210 |
| New Hampshire | $50,990 | $50,750 | 2,040 |
| North Dakota | $50,790 | $56,990 | 1,530 |
| Virginia | $50,190 | $53,390 | 12,930 |
| Illinois | $49,090 | $51,410 | 21,230 |
| Minnesota | $48,940 | $49,310 | 13,110 |
| Maine | $48,640 | $48,690 | 1,670 |
| Indiana | $48,020 | $46,460 | 11,780 |
| Nebraska | $47,760 | $48,920 | 2,330 |
| Wisconsin | $47,760 | $51,040 | 7,840 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,530 | $48,170 | 23,670 |
| Missouri | $46,880 | $47,020 | 8,970 |
| Michigan | $46,380 | $46,100 | 8,780 |
| Iowa | $46,320 | $47,980 | 4,840 |
| Idaho | $46,250 | $45,730 | 2,960 |
| Montana | $46,220 | $46,780 | 1,630 |
| Arizona | $46,050 | $45,390 | 5,020 |
| Kansas | $45,860 | $45,350 | 4,830 |
| Ohio | $45,860 | $45,500 | 5,540 |
| Wyoming | $45,520 | $45,970 | 1,360 |
| Arkansas | $45,500 | $44,410 | 4,340 |
| New Mexico | $45,470 | $46,790 | 1,870 |
| Georgia | $44,950 | $41,410 | 16,880 |
| Kentucky | $44,830 | $46,600 | 6,820 |
| Florida | $44,690 | $44,120 | 13,470 |
| Tennessee | $44,510 | $43,400 | 7,050 |
| Texas | $44,490 | $43,540 | 37,550 |
| Delaware | $42,390 | $45,180 | 1,350 |
| South Carolina | $39,900 | $39,640 | 5,900 |
| South Dakota | $39,730 | $41,380 | 1,290 |
| North Carolina | $37,460 | $39,250 | 12,390 |
| Nevada | $37,280 | $41,440 | 2,590 |
| Oklahoma | $36,920 | $36,840 | 3,710 |
| West Virginia | $33,360 | $33,390 | 4,690 |
| Mississippi | $30,640 | $32,770 | 3,790 |
| Louisiana | $29,450 | $34,270 | 6,670 |
| Alabama | $17,630 | $19,190 | 10,410 |
Similar jobs
- Motorboat Operator: $47,520
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator: $46,420
- Dredge Operator: $49,640
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector: $49,690
- Transportation Worker: $45,650
- Light Truck Driver: $44,860
- Sailor and Marine Oiler: $51,520
- Conveyor Operator and Tender: $42,420
BLS occupation: Bus Drivers, School. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 53-3051). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus driver make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $23.04; the average is $23.28.
Which state pays bus drivers the most?
Massachusetts ($65,170 median), followed by Washington and Connecticut.
What is the salary range for a bus driver?
The bottom 10% earn under $29,240 and the top 10% earn over $65,730 a year.
How much is $47,920 after taxes?
About $40,684 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $39,146 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.