SOC 53-3051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Bus Drivers, School — Olympia
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA · 10 metro areas compared
In Olympia, WA the median wage for Bus Drivers, School reaches $60,460 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Olympia, WA the median wage for Bus Drivers, School reaches $60,460 a year. That is 26.2% more than the national median of $47,920. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $57,630 and $63,070. The lowest tenth earn under $49,610, while the highest tenth earn more than $70,000.
The area has 450 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.35 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Mount Vernon leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $72,070. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 203rd of 345 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,610 | +3.5% |
| 25th | $57,630 | +20.3% |
| Median (50th) | $60,460 | +26.2% |
| 75th | $63,070 | +31.6% |
| 90th | $70,000 | +46.1% |
| Mean | $60,080 | +25.4% |
Other metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Vernon | $72,070 | 200 | |
| 2 | Bellingham | $69,640 | 300 | |
| 3 | Bremerton | $66,880 | 330 | |
| 4 | Seattle | $66,380 | 4,070 | |
| 5 | Longview | $61,730 | 210 | |
| 6 | Wenatchee | $56,640 | 170 | |
| 7 | Kennewick | $53,750 | 450 | |
| 8 | Yakima | $52,480 | 550 | |
| 9 | Walla Walla | $51,840 | 70 | |
| 10 | Spokane | $50,040 | 610 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Olympia run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $60,460 buys what $56,505 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 17.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$60,460as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$56,505US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $60,460 a year, 26.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $49,610 to $70,000 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 450 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Mount Vernon, at $72,070.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Bus Drivers, School in Olympia, WA?
The median annual wage is $60,460, or $29.07 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 Olympia, WA is 26.2% 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 Olympia, WA earns more than $70,000 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $49,610 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 Mount Vernon, at $72,070 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 450 jobs in this occupation in Olympia, WA. 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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