How long does it take to become a Bus Driver?

It takes 6 years of professional experience to become a bus driver. That is the time it takes to learn specific bus driver skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

How To Become A Bus Driver: What It Is and Career Path

What is a bus driver and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A bus driver transports passengers along designated routes, adhering to traffic laws and safety regulations. They work to ensure the safety of their passengers and maintain the cleanliness and functioning of the bus. Bus drivers need excellent driving skills and knowledge of their routes. Additionally, they may handle difficult passengers and emergency situations. Bus drivers typically work full-time schedules and may work early morning, evening, or weekend shifts depending on the employer.

ScoreBus DriverUS Average

Salary

2.9

Avg. Salary $36,879

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

8.2

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.10%

Asian 2.72%

Black or African American 9.13%

Hispanic or Latino 15.30%

Unknown 4.70%

White 67.05%

Gender

female 48.94%

male 51.06%

Age - 59

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 59

Stress Level

8.2

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

6.1

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

10.0

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Bus Driver?

Pros

Job security
Good pay and benefits
Opportunity to meet new people and build relationships with regular passengers
Paid training and support for career development
Driving can be enjoyable for some people

Cons

Dealing with difficult passengers or situations can be mentally and emotionally exhausting
Shift work may disrupt personal life, including sleep schedules and family time
Potential for exposure to illness or disease from passengers or public spaces
Limited opportunities for breaks during long shifts
Limited opportunities for creativity or self-expression in the job

Key steps to become a bus driver

Explore bus driver education requirements

Most common bus driver degrees

High School Diploma

36.5 %

Associate

22.2 %

Bachelor's

18.9 %

Start to develop specific bus driver skills

Skills	Percentages
CDL	26.31%
DOT	9.50%
Customer Service	8.69%
Safety Rules	7.52%
CPR	6.29%

Complete relevant bus driver training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New bus drivers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a bus driver based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real bus driver resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed bus driver usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed bus driver in most of states. 18 states require bus drivers to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License Url
Kentucky	Specific course required	State exam required	School Bus Driver
Maryland	Specific course required	State exam required	BUS DRIVER, SCHOOL
Alaska	Specific course required	State exam required	Bus Driver, School
Idaho	-	State exam required	Commercial Drivers
Illinois	Specific course required	State exam required	COMMERCIAL DRIVER (TRUCK AND BUS OPERATOR)

Research bus driver duties and responsibilities

Demonstrate knowledge of designate routes in metro area.
Provide transportation for city of buffalo residents by driving metro city bus.
Work as the employee trainer for CDL's as well as performed orientation for all new employees.
Drive on narrow streets, in high traffic areas, around trolleys, and heavy pedestrian areas.

Prepare your bus driver resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your bus driver resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a bus driver resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Bus Driver Resume templates

Build a professional Bus Driver resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Bus Driver resume.

Apply for bus driver jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a bus driver job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do bus drivers rate their job?

4.5/5

Based On 4 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Bus Driver reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2023

Pros

You don’t have a supervisor hovering over your shoulders all day. It’s great not to be stuck in an office all day too. Sometimes you really do form a good relationship with some of the students and parents (special needs)

Cons

Unruly and disrespectful children sometimes with dangerous behavior. You may not always be supported by your supervisor, parents or school staff. Hours can be very conflicting with your doctor’s or other appointments

5.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023

Pros

Severing the public , being able to get people to and from work and home is a good day work as a bus driver.

Cons

Not enough overtime , the hours are not enough, and since their are meaningful, being able to sign up for overtime helps . Then there are the class C drivers who take advantage of bus drivers, by cutting us off, or just not being aware that a 40ft/ 60ft bus can not stop on a dime And while class C drivers take unnecessary traffic risk. A bus driver must stay alert and expect the unexpected every minute under the wheel of a bus

5.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2022

Pros

The freedom to work on your own schedule.

Cons

The road rage drivers: people lose their empathy when driving. They become aggressive and angry by the slightest event on the road. Hence, taking the fun out of driving. However, driving is still relaxing and fun.

What is a bus driver and how to become one

What are the pros and cons of being a Bus Driver?

Bus Driver career paths

Key steps to become a bus driver

Explore bus driver education requirements

Most common bus driver degrees

Start to develop specific bus driver skills

Complete relevant bus driver training and internships

Obtain the necessary licensing

Research bus driver duties and responsibilities

Prepare your bus driver resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Bus Driver Resume templates

Apply for bus driver jobs

How Did You Land Your First Bus Driver Job

Average bus driver salary

How do bus drivers rate their job?

Bus Driver reviews

Bus Driver FAQs

How long does it take to become a Bus Driver?

Search for bus driver jobs

Bus Driver jobs by state