SOC 53-3051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Bus Drivers, School — Colorado
Colorado · 6 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Colorado comes to $52,620 a year, ahead of the national median of $47,920 by 9.8%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Colorado comes to $52,620 a year, ahead of the national median of $47,920 by 9.8%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $47,120 and $60,950. The lowest tenth earn under $40,640, while the highest tenth earn more than $70,540.
Employment stands at 3,840, or 1.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Colorado ranks 14th by median wage. Boulder leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $60,950. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 490th of 738 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,640 | −15.2% |
| 25th | $47,120 | −1.7% |
| Median (50th) | $52,620 | +9.8% |
| 75th | $60,950 | +27.2% |
| 90th | $70,540 | +47.2% |
| Mean | $54,770 | +14.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Colorado
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boulder | $60,950 | 310 | |
| 2 | Denver | $59,990 | 1,540 | |
| 3 | Fort Collins | $52,480 | 210 | |
| 4 | Greeley | $51,890 | 240 | |
| 5 | Colorado Springs | $47,330 | 590 | |
| 6 | Pueblo | $43,940 | 120 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Colorado run 3.1% above the national average, so the median of $52,620 buys what $51,038 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 6.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$52,620as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$51,038US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $52,620 a year, 9.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $40,640 to $70,540 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,840 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 14th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Boulder, at $60,950.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Bus Drivers, School in Colorado?
The median annual wage is $52,620, or $25.30 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 Colorado is 9.8% 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 Colorado earns more than $70,540 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $40,640 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 Boulder, at $60,950 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,840 jobs in this occupation in Colorado. 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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