What is a school bus driver/teacher assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
introduction image
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a school bus driver/teacher assistant. For example, did you know that they make an average of $11.99 an hour? That's $24,932 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 Driver/Teacher AssistantUS Average
Salary
1.9

Avg. Salary $24,932

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
8.2

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.00%

Asian 2.46%

Black or African American 10.23%

Hispanic or Latino 17.68%

Unknown 4.54%

White 64.08%

Gender

female 78.41%

male 21.59%

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
5.9

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
10.0

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

School Bus Driver/Teacher Assistant career paths

Key steps to become a school bus driver/teacher assistant

  1. Explore school bus driver/teacher assistant education requirements

    Most common school bus driver/teacher assistant degrees

    High School Diploma

    31.8 %

    Bachelor's

    31.8 %

    Associate

    16.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific school bus driver/teacher assistant skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Assist Bus21.84%
    CPR17.82%
    Emergency Situations15.30%
    Escort Children7.66%
    Seat Belts6.00%
  3. Complete relevant school bus driver/teacher assistant training and internships

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

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

    • Certify in CPR and first-aid.
    • Perform Cpr on child if need.
    • Provide appropriate intervention in conflict situations according to ISS standards; notify principal or office when necessary.
    • Assist children on bus with ESE problems
  6. Prepare your school bus driver/teacher assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your school bus driver/teacher assistant 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 driver/teacher assistant 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 Driver/Teacher Assistant Resume templates

    Build a professional School Bus Driver/Teacher Assistant 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 Driver/Teacher Assistant resume.
    School Bus Driver/Teacher Assistant Resume
    School Bus Driver/Teacher Assistant Resume
    School Bus Driver/Teacher Assistant Resume
    School Bus Driver/Teacher Assistant Resume
    School Bus Driver/Teacher Assistant Resume
    School Bus Driver/Teacher Assistant Resume
    School Bus Driver/Teacher Assistant Resume
    School Bus Driver/Teacher Assistant Resume
    School Bus Driver/Teacher Assistant Resume
  7. Apply for school bus driver/teacher assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a school bus driver/teacher assistant 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 Driver/Teacher Assistant Job

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Average school bus driver/teacher assistant salary

The average School Bus Driver/Teacher Assistant salary in the United States is $24,932 per year or $12 per hour. School bus driver/teacher assistant salaries range between $20,000 and $30,000 per year.

Average School Bus Driver/Teacher Assistant Salary
$24,932 Yearly
$11.99 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do school bus driver/teacher assistants rate their job?

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School Bus Driver/Teacher Assistant 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
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.


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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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