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Bus Operator salary
Average bus operator salary
$37,374
How much does a bus operator make?
The average bus operator salary in the United States is $37,374. Bus operator salaries typically range between $30,000 and $46,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for bus operators is $17.97 per hour.
Bus operator salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. Bus operators earn the highest average salary in Washington.
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Where can a Bus Operator earn more?
Bus Operator salary estimates from across the web
Average bus operator salary by state
The average bus operator salary in Washington, New Jersey, and Oregon are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average bus operator salary states are South Carolina, Missouri, and North Carolina.
- State View
- County View
Highest paying states for bus operators
Rank  | State | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $42,708 | $20.53 |
| 2 | Oregon | $42,793 | $20.57 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $43,593 | $20.96 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $42,474 | $20.42 |
| 5 | Nevada | $41,377 | $19.89 |
| 6 | Washington | $44,381 | $21.34 |
| 7 | Alaska | $40,672 | $19.55 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $40,357 | $19.40 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $40,380 | $19.41 |
| 10 | Montana | $39,155 | $18.82 |
| 11 | Vermont | $40,057 | $19.26 |
| 12 | Tennessee | $40,384 | $19.42 |
| 13 | Idaho | $38,859 | $18.68 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $37,382 | $17.97 |
| 15 | Maine | $39,562 | $19.02 |
| 16 | Georgia | $40,017 | $19.24 |
| 17 | Kansas | $37,492 | $18.02 |
| 18 | New York | $40,247 | $19.35 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $37,602 | $18.08 |
| 20 | Colorado | $39,987 | $19.22 |
| 21 | Indiana | $37,204 | $17.89 |
| 22 | Maryland | $38,248 | $18.39 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $36,533 | $17.56 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $38,405 | $18.46 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $38,572 | $18.54 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $38,108 | $18.32 |
| 27 | Ohio | $36,369 | $17.49 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $37,459 | $18.01 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $36,843 | $17.71 |
| 30 | Texas | $37,550 | $18.05 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $37,712 | $18.13 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $36,545 | $17.57 |
| 33 | California | $38,847 | $18.68 |
| 34 | Iowa | $35,705 | $17.17 |
| 35 | Illinois | $36,430 | $17.51 |
| 36 | Arizona | $35,870 | $17.25 |
| 37 | Utah | $36,726 | $17.66 |
| 38 | Michigan | $35,063 | $16.86 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $36,276 | $17.44 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $34,886 | $16.77 |
| 41 | Missouri | $34,278 | $16.48 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $35,972 | $17.29 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $34,833 | $16.75 |
| 44 | Alabama | $35,079 | $16.86 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $34,654 | $16.66 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $32,972 | $15.85 |
| 47 | Delaware | $35,069 | $16.86 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $33,821 | $16.26 |
| 49 | Virginia | $35,064 | $16.86 |
| 50 | Florida | $33,083 | $15.91 |
| 51 | New Mexico | $32,636 | $15.69 |
Highest paying cities for bus operators
The highest-paying cities for bus operators are Newark, NJ, Portland, OR, and Stamford, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark, NJ | $43,738 | $21.03 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $42,844 | $20.60 |
| 3 | Stamford, CT | $42,319 | $20.35 |
| 4 | Anchorage, AK | $40,727 | $19.58 |
| 5 | Greeley, CO | $40,121 | $19.29 |
| 6 | Columbus, GA | $40,021 | $19.24 |
| 7 | Santa Rosa, CA | $39,336 | $18.91 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $38,611 | $18.56 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $38,316 | $18.42 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $37,598 | $18.08 |
| 11 | Saint Cloud, MN | $37,587 | $18.07 |
| 12 | Lawrence, KS | $37,526 | $18.04 |
| 13 | Lafayette, IN | $37,223 | $17.90 |
| 14 | Salt Lake City, UT | $36,748 | $17.67 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh, PA | $36,585 | $17.59 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $36,461 | $17.53 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $36,119 | $17.36 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $35,892 | $17.26 |
| 19 | Newark, DE | $35,083 | $16.87 |
| 20 | Fayetteville, AR | $34,939 | $16.80 |
Bus Operator salary details
A bus operator's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $46,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a bus operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| Average | $37,374 | $3,115 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
Highest paying bus operator jobs
The highest paying types of bus operators are interstate bus driver, coach operator, and motor coach operator.
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transit Driver | $36,195 | $3,016 | $17.40 | 362,919 |
| School Bus Driver | $37,607 | $3,134 | $18.08 | 112,230 |
| Bus Driver | $36,879 | $3,073 | $17.73 | 359,229 |
| Operator | $37,928 | $3,161 | $18.23 | 159,077 |
Which companies pay bus operators the most?
Bus operator salaries at Microsoft and City Utilities of Springfield are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average bus operator salary at companies like Northrop Grumman and University of California, Berkeley are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft | $118,444 | $56.94 |
| 2 | City Utilities of Springfield | $48,426 | $23.28 |
| 3 | Northrop Grumman | $47,516 | $22.84 |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley | $47,369 | $22.77 |
| 5 | University of California | $45,808 | $22.02 |
| 6 | UC Santa Barbara | $44,058 | $21.18 |
| 7 | Rapid International | $41,240 | $19.83 |
| 8 | Mayor Ethan Berkowitz | $41,099 | $19.76 |
| 9 | George Mc Parland Elementary | $40,368 | $19.41 |
| 10 | Hillsborough Transit Authority | $39,920 | $19.19 |
| 11 | San Diego Transit Corporation | $39,920 | $19.19 |
| 12 | REEF Technology | $39,920 | $19.19 |
| 13 | Parking Company Of America | $39,862 | $19.16 |
| 14 | Solid Ground | $39,815 | $19.14 |
| 15 | GoTriangle | $39,460 | $18.97 |
| 16 | Tulsa Transit | $39,406 | $18.95 |
| 17 | CityBus | $39,337 | $18.91 |
| 18 | Imperial Parking | $39,238 | $18.86 |
| 19 | Reef | $39,216 | $18.85 |
| 20 | Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County | $39,038 | $18.77 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Bus Operator salary by industry
The average bus operator salary varies across industries:
- The average bus operator salary in the education industry is $40,248, the highest of any industry.
- The average bus operator salary in the finance industry is $39,250.
- Bus operators in the transportation industry earn an average salary of $37,718, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for bus operators
| Rank | Industry | Average Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $40,248 | $19.35 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $39,250 | $18.87 |
| 3 | Government | $38,247 | $18.39 |
| 4 | Transportation | $37,718 | $18.13 |
High Paying Bus Operator Jobs
Bus Operator salary trends
The average bus operator salary has risen by $8,360 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average bus operator earned $29,014 annually, but today, they earn $37,374 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for bus operators over the last decade.
Compare bus operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average bus operator salary over time
Compare bus operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
- National Average
- Columbus, OH
Bus Operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,400 | $17.97 | +5.0% |
| 2024 | $35,500 | $17.06 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $34,200 | $16.43 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | $33,100 | $15.92 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $32,300 | $15.54 | +3.8% |
Recently added bus operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date Added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greeley Police Co | Bus Operator I | Greeley, CO | 12/15/2024 | $44,954 |
| City of Greeley | Bus Operator I | Greeley, CO | 12/15/2024 | $44,954 |
| Marta | Bus Operator | Decatur, GA | 12/15/2024 | $42,992 |
| Community Action Organization | Bus | Hillsboro, OR | 12/14/2024 | $35,375 |
| West Virginia Department of Education | Bus Operator (25-S-Bm | West Virginia | 12/14/2024 | $27,770 |
| Perry Local Schools | Substitute Bus Operator | Perry, OH | 12/13/2024 | $43,827 |
| Dufry Ltd. | Bus | Salt Lake City, UT | 12/13/2024 | $32,349 |
| Sacramento Regional Transit District | Bus Operator | Sacramento, CA | 12/13/2024 | $52,154 |
| Grtc Transit System | Bus Operator | Richmond, VA | 12/13/2024 | $51,507 |
| West Virginia K-12 Jobs | S-84 Substitute Bus Operator | West Virginia | 12/13/2024 | $36,509 |
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