SOC 53-3051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Bus Drivers, School — Southeast Iowa
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Bus Drivers, School in Southeast Iowa, IA is $48,600 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 Southeast Iowa, IA is $48,600 per year, close to the national median of $47,920 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $22,820 at the tenth percentile to more than $62,140 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $34,720 to $56,070.
The area has 820 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 4.1 of every thousand jobs. Ames leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $54,780. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 254th of 420 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,820 | −52.4% |
| 25th | $34,720 | −27.5% |
| Median (50th) | $48,600 | +1.4% |
| 75th | $56,070 | +17.0% |
| 90th | $62,140 | +29.7% |
| Mean | $46,050 | −3.9% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ames | $54,780 | 220 | |
| 2 | Sioux City | $48,760 | 250 | |
| 3 | Iowa City | $48,530 | 190 | |
| 4 | Waterloo | $47,100 | 130 | |
| 5 | Davenport | $46,720 | 490 | |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids | $46,220 | 340 | |
| 7 | Des Moines | $46,210 | 860 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Southeast Iowa run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $48,600 goes as far as $55,353 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 15.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$48,600as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$55,353US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $48,600 a year, 1.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $22,820 to $62,140 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 820 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Ames, at $54,780.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Bus Drivers, School in Southeast Iowa, IA?
The median annual wage is $48,600, or $23.36 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 Southeast Iowa, IA is 1.4% 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 Southeast Iowa, IA earns more than $62,140 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $22,820 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 Ames, at $54,780 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 820 jobs in this occupation in Southeast Iowa, IA. 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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