SOC 53-3051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Bus Drivers, School — Washington
Washington · 10 metro areas compared
In Washington the median wage for Bus Drivers, School reaches $63,370 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Washington the median wage for Bus Drivers, School reaches $63,370 a year. That is 32.2% more than the national median of $47,920. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $56,640 and $70,890. The lowest tenth earn under $49,670, while the highest tenth earn more than $75,530.
Employment stands at 9,660, or 2.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Washington ranks 2nd by median wage. 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 454th of 757 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,670 | +3.7% |
| 25th | $56,640 | +18.2% |
| Median (50th) | $63,370 | +32.2% |
| 75th | $70,890 | +47.9% |
| 90th | $75,530 | +57.6% |
| Mean | $62,940 | +31.3% |
Highest-paying 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 | Olympia | $60,460 | 450 | |
| 7 | Wenatchee | $56,640 | 170 | |
| 8 | Kennewick | $53,750 | 450 | |
| 9 | Yakima | $52,480 | 550 | |
| 10 | Walla Walla | $51,840 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Washington run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $63,370 buys what $59,224 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 23.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$63,370as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$59,224US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $63,370 a year, 32.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $49,670 to $75,530 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 9,660 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 2nd of 51 states for 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 Washington?
The median annual wage is $63,370, or $30.47 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 Washington is 32.2% 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 Washington earns more than $75,530 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $49,670 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 9,660 jobs in this occupation in Washington. 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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