SOC 53-3051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Bus Drivers, School — Central Missouri
Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area · 8 metro areas compared
The median wage for Bus Drivers, School in Central Missouri, MO is $44,980 per year, close to the national median of $47,920 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Bus Drivers, School in Central Missouri, MO is $44,980 per year, close to the national median of $47,920 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $30,220 at the tenth percentile to more than $58,120 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $35,730 to $47,520.
Employment stands at 870, or 5.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Kansas City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $48,110. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 225th of 371 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,220 | −36.9% |
| 25th | $35,730 | −25.4% |
| Median (50th) | $44,980 | −6.1% |
| 75th | $47,520 | −0.8% |
| 90th | $58,120 | +21.3% |
| Mean | $44,580 | −7.0% |
Other metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City | $48,110 | 2,530 | |
| 2 | St. Louis | $48,100 | 4,470 | |
| 3 | Cape Girardeau | $47,550 | 70 | |
| 4 | Jefferson City | $47,040 | 130 | |
| 5 | Joplin | $46,330 | 220 | |
| 6 | Springfield | $45,970 | 280 | |
| 7 | Columbia | $44,090 | 580 | |
| 8 | St. Joseph | $43,490 | 240 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Central Missouri run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $44,980 goes as far as $49,537 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,980as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$49,537US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,980 a year, 6.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $30,220 to $58,120 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 870 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kansas City, at $48,110.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Bus Drivers, School in Central Missouri, MO?
The median annual wage is $44,980, or $21.63 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $47,920, so pay in Central Missouri, MO is 6.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Central Missouri, MO earns more than $58,120 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $30,220 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Kansas City, at $48,110 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 870 jobs in this occupation in Central Missouri, MO. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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