What is a school bus aide and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
introduction image
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a school bus aide. For example, did you know that they make an average of $13.03 an hour? That's $27,100 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 32,800 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreSchool Bus AideUS Average
Salary
2.1

Avg. Salary $27,100

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
8.2

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.02%

Asian 2.51%

Black or African American 8.29%

Hispanic or Latino 15.94%

Unknown 4.57%

White 67.66%

Gender

female 80.79%

male 19.21%

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

School Bus Aide career paths

Key steps to become a school bus aide

  1. Explore school bus aide education requirements

    Most common school bus aide degrees

    High School Diploma

    48.3 %

    Associate

    23.0 %

    Bachelor's

    12.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific school bus aide skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    CPR28.94%
    CDL19.96%
    Seat Belts10.33%
    Student Discipline8.11%
    Bus Safety5.84%
  3. Complete relevant school bus aide training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New school bus aides 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 school bus aide based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real school bus aide resumes.
  4. Obtain the necessary licensing

    Becoming a licensed school bus aide usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed school bus aide in most of states. 18 states require school bus aides 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 school bus aide duties and responsibilities

    • Provide CPR as needed (certify) & first aid.
    • Provide appropriate intervention in conflict situations according to ISS standards; notify principal or office when necessary.
    • Enroll in CDL training classes.
  6. Prepare your school bus aide resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your school bus aide 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 school bus aide resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable School Bus Aide Resume templates

    Build a professional School Bus Aide 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 School Bus Aide resume.
    School Bus Aide Resume
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    School Bus Aide Resume
    School Bus Aide Resume
  7. Apply for school bus aide jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a school bus aide 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 School Bus Aide Job

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Average school bus aide salary

The average School Bus Aide salary in the United States is $27,100 per year or $13 per hour. School bus aide salaries range between $22,000 and $32,000 per year.

Average School Bus Aide Salary
$27,100 Yearly
$13.03 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do school bus aides rate their job?

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School Bus Aide reviews

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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


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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


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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.


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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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