What is a paratransit driver and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
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There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a paratransit driver. For example, did you know that they make an average of $17.01 an hour? That's $35,386 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 20% and produce 72,400 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreParatransit DriverUS Average
Salary
2.8

Avg. Salary $35,386

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
6.4

Growth Rate 20%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.54%

Asian 8.81%

Black or African American 10.86%

Hispanic or Latino 21.49%

Unknown 4.57%

White 53.73%

Gender

female 39.65%

male 60.35%

Age - 48
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 - 48
Stress Level
6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
5.3

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
7.7

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Paratransit Driver career paths

Key steps to become a paratransit driver

  1. Explore paratransit driver education requirements

    Most common paratransit driver degrees

    High School Diploma

    39.7 %

    Associate

    16.1 %

    Diploma

    14.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific paratransit driver skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    CDL17.33%
    Transport Passengers12.80%
    Vehicle Inspections10.78%
    GPS9.37%
    Safety Rules7.36%
  3. Complete relevant paratransit driver training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New paratransit 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 paratransit driver based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real paratransit driver resumes.
  4. Obtain the necessary licensing

    Becoming a licensed paratransit driver usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed paratransit driver in most of states. 18 states require paratransit drivers to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.
    State
    ascdesc
    Education
    ascdesc
    Exam
    ascdesc
    License Url
    ascdesc
    KentuckySpecific course requiredState exam requiredSchool Bus Driver
    MarylandSpecific course requiredState exam requiredBUS DRIVER, SCHOOL
    AlaskaSpecific course requiredState exam requiredBus Driver, School
    Idaho-State exam requiredCommercial Drivers
    IllinoisSpecific course requiredState exam requiredCOMMERCIAL DRIVER (TRUCK AND BUS OPERATOR)
  5. Research paratransit driver duties and responsibilities

    • Accomplish CDL license with endorsement in doubles/triples.
    • Contract through MTA; drive disabled clients to doctor's appointments, dialysis, and work.
    • Operate hydraulic equipment, GPS and computerize radio communication systems.
    • Respond to medical emergencies include administering first-aid and relay requests for services and transportation of patients to medical emergencies or appointments.
  6. Prepare your paratransit driver resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your paratransit 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 paratransit 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 Paratransit Driver Resume templates

    Build a professional Paratransit 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 Paratransit Driver resume.
    Paratransit Driver Resume
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    Paratransit Driver Resume
    Paratransit Driver Resume
  7. Apply for paratransit driver jobs

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

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

How Did You Land Your First Paratransit Driver Job

Zippi

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Average paratransit driver salary

The average Paratransit Driver salary in the United States is $35,386 per year or $17 per hour. Paratransit driver salaries range between $25,000 and $48,000 per year.

Average Paratransit Driver Salary
$35,386 Yearly
$17.01 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do paratransit drivers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

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1 Star

Paratransit Driver reviews

profile
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


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019
Pros

Providing safe and reliable transportation for people

Cons

Rude, disrespectful individuals who do not respect the driver and driver's aide ,not following the rules of ridership and respect for others.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2019
Pros

Independent. I'm my own boss.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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