SOC 53-3051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Bus Drivers, School — Chicago
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Bus Drivers, School in Chicago, IL is $49,180 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 Chicago, IL is $49,180 per year, close to the national median of $47,920 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $38,360 at the tenth percentile to more than $62,600 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $47,560 to $59,930.
The area has 15,210 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 3.4 of every thousand jobs. Decatur leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $54,830. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 522nd of 716 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,360 | −19.9% |
| 25th | $47,560 | −0.8% |
| Median (50th) | $49,180 | +2.6% |
| 75th | $59,930 | +25.1% |
| 90th | $62,600 | +30.6% |
| Mean | $52,260 | +9.1% |
Other metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Decatur | $54,830 | — | |
| 2 | Peoria | $48,100 | 620 | |
| 3 | Springfield | $46,450 | 370 | |
| 4 | Rockford | $45,560 | 460 | |
| 5 | Bloomington | $45,500 | 280 | |
| 6 | Champaign | $45,240 | 280 | |
| 7 | Kankakee | $44,870 | 160 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Chicago sit close to the national average, so $49,180 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$49,180as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$49,180US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $49,180 a year, 2.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,360 to $62,600 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 15,210 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Decatur, at $54,830.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Bus Drivers, School in Chicago, IL?
The median annual wage is $49,180, or $23.64 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 Chicago, IL is 2.6% higher. 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 Chicago, IL earns more than $62,600 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,360 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 Decatur, at $54,830 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 15,210 jobs in this occupation in Chicago, IL. 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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