What is a transit bus driver 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 transit bus driver. For example, did you know that they make an average of $17.91 an hour? That's $37,247 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 32,800 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreTransit Bus DriverUS Average
Salary
2.9

Avg. Salary $37,247

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
8.0

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.15%

Asian 4.90%

Black or African American 25.13%

Hispanic or Latino 17.04%

Unknown 4.12%

White 47.66%

Gender

female 35.64%

male 64.36%

Age - 56
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 - 56
Stress Level
8.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
6.8

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
5.6

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Transit Bus Driver career paths

Key steps to become a transit bus driver

  1. Explore transit bus driver education requirements

    Most common transit bus driver degrees

    High School Diploma

    34.8 %

    Bachelor's

    26.9 %

    Associate

    21.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific transit bus driver skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Passenger Endorsement15.86%
    DOT15.04%
    Safety Rules10.05%
    Two-Way Radio9.09%
    Transport Passengers6.22%
  3. Complete relevant transit bus driver training and internships

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

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

    • Train in CPR, and the individual needs of the clients.
    • Charter arraign trips to Ohio and NYC.
    • Perform daily vehicle inspection in accordance with CDL requirements.
    • Implement the extensive public relations training acquire from RTA.
  6. Prepare your transit bus driver resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your transit 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 transit 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 Transit Bus Driver Resume templates

    Build a professional Transit 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 Transit Bus Driver resume.
    Transit Bus Driver Resume
    Transit Bus Driver Resume
    Transit Bus Driver Resume
    Transit Bus Driver Resume
    Transit Bus Driver Resume
    Transit Bus Driver Resume
    Transit Bus Driver Resume
    Transit Bus Driver Resume
    Transit Bus Driver Resume
  7. Apply for transit bus driver jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a transit bus 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 Transit Bus Driver Job

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Average transit bus driver salary

The average Transit Bus Driver salary in the United States is $37,247 per year or $18 per hour. Transit bus driver salaries range between $30,000 and $45,000 per year.

Average Transit Bus Driver Salary
$37,247 Yearly
$17.91 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do transit bus drivers rate their job?

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Transit Bus Driver 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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