Bus Drivers, School: Job Description
Drive a school bus to transport students. Ensure adherence to safety rules. May assist students in boarding or exiting.
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The Daily Work of Bus Drivers, School Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of bus drivers, school cover:
- Comply with traffic regulations to operate vehicles in a safe and courteous manner.
- Follow safety rules as students board and exit buses or cross streets near bus stops.
- Check the condition of a vehicle's tires, brakes, windshield wipers, lights, oil, fuel, water, and safety equipment to ensure that everything is in working order.
- Report any bus malfunctions or needed repairs.
- Pick up and drop off students at regularly scheduled neighborhood locations, following strict time schedules.
- Drive gasoline, diesel, or electrically powered multi-passenger vehicles to transport students between neighborhoods, schools, and school activities.
- Maintain order among students during trips to ensure safety.
- Prepare and submit reports that may include the number of students or trips, hours worked, mileage, or fuel consumption.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful bus drivers, school draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Bus Drivers, School Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Bus Drive Coordinator
- Bus Driver
- Bus Monitor
- CDL Bus Driver (Commercial Driver's License Bus Driver)
- CDL School Bus Driver (Commercial Driver's License School Bus Driver)
- Campus Driver
- Public School Bus Driver
- SPED Bus Driver (Special Education Bus Driver)
How Many Bus Drivers, School Are There?
The U.S. employs around 383,655 bus drivers, school working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +6.8% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Bus Drivers, School Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $47,746 |
| Hourly median | $22.96 |
| 10th percentile | $29,933 |
| 25th percentile | $38,840 |
| 75th percentile | $56,653 |
| 90th percentile | $65,560 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Bus Drivers, School Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $63,030 |
| Washington | $60,250 |
| Connecticut | $59,340 |
| New Jersey | $59,140 |
| California | $58,280 |
| New York | $56,510 |
| District of Columbia | $54,450 |
| Oregon | $52,090 |
| Utah | $51,270 |
| Hawaii | $51,210 |
| Maryland | $51,040 |
| North Dakota | $50,420 |
| Alaska | $49,880 |
| Vermont | $49,800 |
| Illinois | $49,760 |
| Minnesota | $49,600 |
| Colorado | $49,490 |
| Rhode Island | $49,430 |
| Virginia | $48,600 |
| New Hampshire | $47,700 |
| Wisconsin | $47,480 |
| Maine | $47,390 |
| Nebraska | $47,320 |
| Indiana | $47,070 |
| Ohio | $46,900 |
| New Mexico | $46,240 |
| Wyoming | $45,960 |
| Montana | $45,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,710 |
| Michigan | $45,670 |
| Iowa | $45,380 |
| Kansas | $44,720 |
| Delaware | $44,360 |
| Arizona | $43,610 |
| Missouri | $43,520 |
| Texas | $42,780 |
| South Carolina | $42,330 |
| Idaho | $42,070 |
| Arkansas | $42,020 |
| Tennessee | $41,100 |
| Kentucky | $40,610 |
| Virgin Islands | $39,360 |
| Florida | $39,170 |
| South Dakota | $38,710 |
| Georgia | $37,510 |
| Oklahoma | $37,430 |
| North Carolina | $36,620 |
| Nevada | $36,380 |
| Louisiana | $32,030 |
| West Virginia | $30,080 |
| Mississippi | $28,940 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,830 |
| Alabama | $17,620 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for bus drivers, school shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $57,744 | 6.2% | 1.34 |
| Far Western US | $56,073 | 8.2% | 0.65 |
| Middle Atlantic | $53,099 | 21.4% | 1.45 |
| Great Lakes | $47,885 | 13.9% | 1.12 |
| Rocky Mountains | $47,233 | 2.6% | 0.84 |
| Plains States | $46,248 | 8.9% | 1.31 |
| Southwest | $42,592 | 11.4% | 0.93 |
| Southeast | $36,890 | 27.0% | 1.27 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Bus Drivers, School
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | WA | $67,040 | 170 |
| Medford, OR | OR | $66,060 | 210 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $65,480 | 310 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $65,110 | 640 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $65,110 | 3,910 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $64,750 | 60 |
| Springfield, MA | MA | $64,570 | 710 |
| Bellingham, WA | WA | $64,080 | 270 |
Industry Breakdown
Most bus drivers, school are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 201,110 | $42,630 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 142,760 | $49,200 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 5,200 | $38,900 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 630 | $41,200 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 100 | $44,020 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of bus drivers, school tends to involve the following characteristics:
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
- Frequency of Decision Making
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Spend Time Sitting
- Contact With Others
How to Become Bus Drivers, School
Most bus drivers, school positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Emergency Medical Technicians (Supplemental)
- Parking Enforcement Workers (Supplemental)
- Transit and Railroad Police (Supplemental)
- Crossing Guards and Flaggers (Primary-Long)
- School Bus Monitors (Primary-Short)
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance (Primary-Long)
- Commercial Pilots (Supplemental)
- Air Traffic Controllers (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for bus drivers, school often complete programs in:
Transportation and Materials Moving
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 53-3051.00 (Bus Drivers, School).
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