How Much Does a City Bus Driver Make? (2025)
A city bus driver is responsible for safely operating buses along designated routes, assisting passengers, and ensuring timely and efficient transportation service within a city. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for bus drivers is projected to grow by 2% from 2023 to 2033.
For 2025, Salary.com projects the average annual salary for a City Bus Driver in the United States to be $46,639. Here are additional insights into city bus driver salary trends, top-paying cities in the US, and ways to increase earnings.
Average City Bus Driver Salary
The projected annual average salary for a city bus driver in the United States for 2025 is $46,639, which is a 2.5% increase from the 2024 average annual wage of $45,501.
As of December 01, 2024 , the salary range for city bus drivers in the U.S. is $34,038 to $56,773, with most earning between $39,501 and $51,401 annually.
2025 City Bus Driver Average Salary: $46,639 per year ($22.42 per hour)
2024 City Bus Driver Average Salary: $45,501 per year ($22.00 per hour)
A city bus driver monthly salary is $3,792 on average, while the weekly rate is $875 on average. Meanwhile, a city bus driver salary per hour is $22.00, according to a Salary.com report file.
| Percentile | By Hour | By Week | By Month | By Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $16.00 | $640 | $2,773 | $34,038 |
| 25th Percentile | $19.00 | $760 | $3,293 | $39,501 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $22.00 | $875 | $3,792 | $45,501 |
| 75th Percentile | $24.00 | $960 | $4,160 | $51,401 |
| 90th Percentile | $27.00 | $1,080 | $4,661 | $56,773 |
City Bus Driver Salaries State by State
The average salary for city bus drivers differs significantly by state, which is influenced by factors such as the cost of living and the size of the transportation network.
- Highest salary: The highest average salary is in District of Columbia, at $50,701.
- Lowest salary: The lowest average salary is in Mississippi, at $40,601.
Salaries generally range from the mid-$40,000s to $50,000s, with a few exceptions, such as Mississippi and South Dakota, which have lower averages. States like California, New Jersey, and Washington also offer competitive salaries.
| State | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $49,601 |
| Alabama | $41,801 |
| Arkansas | $41,501 |
| Arizona | $44,301 |
| California | $50,201 |
| Colorado | $46,401 |
| Connecticut | $48,901 |
| District of Columbia | $50,701 |
| Delaware | $46,201 |
| Florida | $43,301 |
| Georgia | $44,001 |
| Hawaii | $47,601 |
| Iowa | $43,601 |
| Idaho | $42,501 |
| Illinois | $46,601 |
| Indiana | $44,201 |
| Kansas | $43,301 |
| Kentucky | $42,801 |
| Louisiana | $43,301 |
| Massachusetts | $49,501 |
| Maryland | $46,901 |
| Maine | $44,301 |
| Michigan | $44,901 |
| Minnesota | $46,601 |
| Missouri | $43,401 |
| Mississippi | $40,601 |
| Montana | $42,501 |
| North Carolina | $43,701 |
| North Dakota | $45,101 |
| Nebraska | $42,901 |
| New Hampshire | $46,301 |
| New Jersey | $49,901 |
| New Mexico | $42,001 |
| Nevada | $45,701 |
| New York | $48,501 |
| Ohio | $44,501 |
| Oklahoma | $42,101 |
| Oregon | $46,301 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,401 |
| Rhode Island | $47,501 |
| South Carolina | $43,001 |
| South Dakota | $40,901 |
| Tennessee | $42,201 |
| Texas | $44,601 |
| Utah | $43,301 |
| Virginia | $45,701 |
| Vermont | $44,701 |
| Washington | $49,101 |
| Wisconsin | $45,001 |
| West Virginia | $41,001 |
What’s The Best-Paying Cities For City Bus Driver?
The best-paying cities for city bus drivers are largely concentrated in California, New York, and New Jersey, with cities like San Jose and San Francisco topping the list. These cities offer salaries well above the national average for city bus drivers, with San Jose, CA being the highest at $57,101 annually.
Cities like New York and Queens Village also offer competitive salaries, with annual earnings around $53,201 and $52,801, respectively. The overall trend shows that urban areas with high living costs and a strong public transportation infrastructure tend to offer higher wages for city bus drivers.
| City | Annual Salary | Hourly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $57,101 | $27.46 |
| San Francisco, CA | $56,901 | $27.37 |
| Oakland, CA | $55,501 | $26.68 |
| New York, NY | $53,201 | $25.57 |
| Queens Village, NY | $52,801 | $25.38 |
How Experience Affects City Bus Driver Salary?
The salary of a city bus driver increases with experience. Entry-level drivers (0-1 year) earn an average of $43,331. Mid-level drivers (2-4 years) make around $43,510. Senior-level drivers (5-8 years) make an average of $44,226. Expert-level drivers (8+ years) earn an average salary of $47,238.
| Experience Level | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry-level city bus driver | $43,331 |
| Intermediate-level city bus driver | $43,510 |
| Senior-level city bus driver | $44,226 |
| Specialist-level city bus driver | $45,301 |
| Expert-level city bus driver | $47,238 |
How Can I Make More Money as a City Bus Driver?
To make more money as a city bus driver, you can focus on the following:
- Gain experience: Increase your earning potential by accumulating more years of experience. As your experience grows, your salary can rise from $43,331 (entry-level) to $47,238 (expert-level).
- Work in high-paying states or cities: Consider relocating or applying for positions in higher-paying areas like California ($50,201), New Jersey ($49,901), or New York ($53,201) where salaries tend to be higher.
- Seek senior or specialist roles: Aim for roles that require more expertise, like senior or specialist city bus driver positions, which typically earn more than entry-level drivers.
- Pursue additional qualifications: Obtaining additional certifications or skills in customer service or bus driving could make you eligible for higher-paying roles, such as those with specialized responsibilities (e.g., bus driver trainer).
City Bus Driver Skills
City bus drivers can increase their salaries by acquiring high-demand skills related to their profession.
The highest-demand skill for city bus drivers is vehicle inspection, accounting for 12.64% of job postings, with a 4.48% salary boost. On the other hand, the skill with the lowest demand is pre- and post-trip inspections (12.21%), yet it offers the highest salary increase of 10.26%.
| Skill | Demand | Salary Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle inspection | 12.64% | +4.48% |
| Vehicular incident reporting | 12.51% | +7.93% |
| Driver logs | 12.41% | +7.93% |
| Passenger assistance | 12.31% | +7.93% |
| Vehicle safety checks | 12.31% | +7.44% |
| Pre- and post-trip inspections | 12.21% | +10.26% |
City Bus Driver Salary FAQs
Here are the details of the common questions about city bus driver salary:
What is the average salary for a city bus driver?
The average annual salary for a city bus driver is currently $45,401. For 2025, the projected median annual salary is $46,639. The salary range spans from $34,038 to $56,677, with most drivers earning between $39,501 and $51,401. The hourly time rate is $22 per hour, with a range of $16 to $27.
What is the salary for an entry-level city bus driver?
An entry-level city bus driver typically earns around $43,331 annually, which breaks down to approximately $20.83 per hour.
How can I increase my salary as a city bus driver?
To increase your salary as a city bus driver, focus, review or join on skills that offer significant salary boosts. Skills like vehicle inspection (+4.48%), driver logs (+7.93%), and vehicular incident reporting (+7.93%) can raise your earnings. Other skills, such as passenger assistance (+7.93%) and vehicle safety checks (+7.44%), also lead to higher pay.
