Bus Driver salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A bus driver earns a median of $59,050 a year ($28.39 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $60,280. About 159,240 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $59,050
- Gross pay
- $2,271.15
- Federal income tax
- −$188.69
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$140.81
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$32.93
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,908.72
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $59,050
- Federal
- $4,906
- FICA
- $4,517
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $49,627
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $84,480 | $74,560 | 16,770 |
| Washington | $72,280 | $73,650 | 6,960 |
| Hawaii | $68,500 | $62,170 | 2,190 |
| California | $67,130 | $66,930 | 24,380 |
| Oregon | $65,510 | $66,860 | 2,620 |
| Massachusetts | $65,460 | $70,760 | 3,970 |
| Maryland | $65,220 | $67,990 | 4,890 |
| Illinois | $65,200 | $67,480 | 8,650 |
| Alaska | $64,150 | $65,100 | 250 |
| Colorado | $63,010 | $61,830 | 3,540 |
| Ohio | $62,760 | $58,310 | 4,000 |
| Nevada | $61,700 | $68,100 | 2,540 |
| New Jersey | $61,140 | $62,050 | 6,420 |
| Missouri | $60,660 | $54,810 | 1,860 |
| Delaware | $60,510 | $55,980 | 380 |
| Connecticut | $60,100 | $59,550 | 1,830 |
| Indiana | $58,410 | $55,720 | 2,130 |
| Maine | $57,870 | $55,450 | 470 |
| District of Columbia | $55,580 | $55,890 | 150 |
| New Hampshire | $54,830 | $54,980 | 300 |
| Kentucky | $54,550 | $49,790 | 2,570 |
| Arizona | $53,870 | $55,180 | 3,240 |
| Vermont | $53,830 | $55,210 | 440 |
| Virginia | $52,940 | $54,520 | 3,800 |
| Wisconsin | $52,660 | $53,420 | 2,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,360 | $54,260 | 4,710 |
| Utah | $50,730 | $51,590 | 1,230 |
| Oklahoma | $50,300 | $51,050 | 1,760 |
| Minnesota | $50,200 | $53,210 | 2,610 |
| Idaho | $49,000 | $49,420 | 520 |
| North Dakota | $48,890 | $49,700 | 250 |
| Louisiana | $48,860 | $47,740 | 1,490 |
| Texas | $48,740 | $49,040 | 11,600 |
| Rhode Island | $48,610 | $52,050 | 70 |
| Florida | $48,300 | $51,700 | 9,130 |
| Tennessee | $47,770 | $51,770 | 1,970 |
| Michigan | $47,660 | $49,340 | 3,620 |
| Iowa | $45,890 | $46,150 | 1,560 |
| Montana | $45,640 | $46,760 | 450 |
| Wyoming | $45,630 | $51,050 | 130 |
| New Mexico | $45,610 | $42,900 | 580 |
| Georgia | $45,500 | $48,850 | 3,700 |
| Nebraska | $45,120 | $46,420 | 460 |
| North Carolina | $44,060 | $44,670 | 2,900 |
| South Carolina | $43,330 | $41,650 | 630 |
| South Dakota | $41,590 | $41,720 | 410 |
| Kansas | $41,340 | $41,080 | 430 |
| West Virginia | $39,260 | $41,520 | 520 |
| Mississippi | $38,570 | $38,760 | 400 |
| Alabama | $37,700 | $39,700 | 960 |
| Arkansas | $37,520 | $40,050 | 570 |
Similar jobs
- Traffic Technician: $59,090
- Tank Car: $58,870
- Truck Driver: $58,640
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor: $58,170
- Bridge and Lock Tender: $57,700
- Rail Yard Engineer: $60,600
- Airfield Operations Specialist: $56,850
- Hoist and Winch Operator: $56,450
BLS occupation: Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 53-3052). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus driver make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $28.39; the average is $28.98.
Which state pays bus drivers the most?
New York ($84,480 median), followed by Washington and Hawaii.
What is the salary range for a bus driver?
The bottom 10% earn under $40,030 and the top 10% earn over $84,700 a year.
How much is $59,050 after taxes?
About $49,627 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $47,276 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.