SOC 53-3052 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — Seattle
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in Seattle, WA is $83,430 per year, well above the national median of $59,050.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in Seattle, WA is $83,430 per year, well above the national median of $59,050. The gap of 41.3% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $65,560 and $93,180. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $59,750 and the ninetieth at $93,180.
Employment stands at 4,430, or 2.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Bremerton records the highest median at $65,360. Of the 693 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 292nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $59,750 | +1.2% |
| 25th | $65,560 | +11.0% |
| Median (50th) | $83,430 | +41.3% |
| 75th | $93,180 | +57.8% |
| 90th | $93,180 | +57.8% |
| Mean | $79,800 | +35.1% |
Other metro areas in Washington
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Seattle run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $83,430 buys what $77,972 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 32.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$83,430as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$77,972US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $83,430 a year, 41.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $59,750 to $93,180 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 4,430 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Bremerton, at $65,360.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in Seattle, WA?
The median annual wage is $83,430, or $40.11 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 $59,050, so pay in Seattle, WA is 41.3% 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 Seattle, WA earns more than $93,180 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $59,750 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 Bremerton, at $65,360 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 4,430 jobs in this occupation in Seattle, 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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