SOC 53-3052 · May 2025 · United States
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity across the United States is $59,050 per year, measured over 159,240 jobs. The highest state median is in New York, at $84,480.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
The next ten years
Projected to grow about as fast as average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +4.3%
- Openings per year
- 20,900
- Typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Where the pay is highest for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
Pay for this occupation varies by 125.2% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. New York pays $84,480 and Arkansas pays $37,520.
| # | State | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $84,480 | 16,770 | |
| 2 | Washington | $72,280 | 6,960 | |
| 3 | Hawaii | $68,500 | 2,190 | |
| 4 | California | $67,130 | 24,380 | |
| 5 | Oregon | $65,510 | 2,620 | |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $65,460 | 3,970 | |
| 7 | Maryland | $65,220 | 4,890 | |
| 8 | Illinois | $65,200 | 8,650 | |
| 9 | Alaska | $64,150 | 250 | |
| 10 | Colorado | $63,010 | 3,540 |
States with the most Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity jobs
| # | State | Jobs | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 24,380 | $67,130 | |
| 2 | New York | 16,770 | $84,480 | |
| 3 | Texas | 11,600 | $48,740 | |
| 4 | Florida | 9,130 | $48,300 | |
| 5 | Illinois | 8,650 | $65,200 | |
| 6 | Washington | 6,960 | $72,280 | |
| 7 | New Jersey | 6,420 | $61,140 | |
| 8 | Maryland | 4,890 | $65,220 | |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 4,710 | $51,360 | |
| 10 | Ohio | 4,000 | $62,760 |
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Vegas | $90,460 | 2,180 |
| 2 | Seattle | $83,430 | 4,430 |
| 3 | Portland | $80,170 | 2,130 |
| 4 | San Francisco | $78,900 | 5,540 |
| 5 | New York | $78,130 | 19,770 |
| 6 | Columbus | $73,790 | 700 |
| 7 | Salinas | $71,290 | 180 |
| 8 | Atlantic City | $70,700 | 300 |
| 9 | Sacramento | $70,680 | 810 |
| 10 | Boston | $70,120 | 3,270 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 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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