Find Trade Colleges
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity: Career Overview
Drive bus or motor coach, including regular route operations, charters, and private carriage. May assist passengers with baggage. May collect fares or tickets.
The Daily Work of Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Perform?
Typical responsibilities of bus drivers, transit and intercity cover:
- Drive vehicles over specified routes or to specified destinations according to time schedules, complying with traffic regulations to ensure that passengers have a smooth and safe ride.
- Park vehicles at loading areas so that passengers can board.
- Inspect vehicles and check gas, oil, and water levels prior to departure.
- Announce stops to passengers.
- Assist passengers, such as elderly or individuals with disabilities, on and off bus, ensure they are seated properly, help carry baggage, and answer questions about bus schedules or routes.
- Collect tickets or cash fares from passengers.
- Handle passenger emergencies or disruptions.
- Report delays or accidents.
What Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Need to Know
Top bus drivers, transit and intercity rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Bus Driver
- Bus Operator
- CDL Bus Driver (Commercial Driver's License Bus Driver)
- Charter Bus Driver
- Charter Coach Driver
- Charter Driver
- City Bus Driver
- Coach Operator
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 1,247,703 bus drivers, transit and intercity working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -1.9% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $31,743 |
| Hourly median | $15.26 |
| 10th percentile | $21,297 |
| 25th percentile | $26,520 |
| 75th percentile | $36,966 |
| 90th percentile | $42,188 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $82,420 |
| Washington | $70,360 |
| Illinois | $69,950 |
| Maryland | $69,440 |
| Hawaii | $69,090 |
| Oregon | $62,900 |
| Massachusetts | $62,870 |
| California | $62,430 |
| Alaska | $62,300 |
| New Jersey | $62,200 |
| Colorado | $61,310 |
| Connecticut | $56,870 |
| Ohio | $54,360 |
| Missouri | $54,090 |
| New Hampshire | $53,990 |
| Maine | $53,180 |
| Delaware | $52,770 |
| Vermont | $52,520 |
| Minnesota | $52,290 |
| Virginia | $51,140 |
| Wisconsin | $51,100 |
| District of Columbia | $50,470 |
| Indiana | $50,400 |
| Kentucky | $50,360 |
| Rhode Island | $49,920 |
| Utah | $49,500 |
| Texas | $49,070 |
| Arizona | $48,660 |
| Tennessee | $48,140 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,010 |
| Louisiana | $48,000 |
| Montana | $46,760 |
| Florida | $46,640 |
| Michigan | $46,590 |
| Georgia | $45,750 |
| West Virginia | $45,440 |
| Kansas | $44,480 |
| Wyoming | $43,910 |
| Oklahoma | $43,660 |
| Idaho | $43,490 |
| New Mexico | $43,450 |
| Nebraska | $43,160 |
| Nevada | $42,800 |
| North Carolina | $41,790 |
| South Dakota | $40,470 |
| Iowa | $40,110 |
| North Dakota | $39,220 |
| South Carolina | $38,580 |
| Mississippi | $37,610 |
| Alabama | $37,300 |
| Arkansas | $36,940 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,800 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for bus drivers, transit and intercity shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $71,665 | 21.3% | 1.56 |
| Far Western US | $63,013 | 25.5% | 1.64 |
| New England | $59,527 | 4.7% | 1.11 |
| Great Lakes | $58,714 | 12.3% | 0.95 |
| Rocky Mountains | $55,822 | 3.7% | 1.01 |
| Southwest | $48,222 | 9.6% | 0.77 |
| Plains States | $47,311 | 4.9% | 0.84 |
| Southeast | $46,360 | 17.6% | 0.78 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $81,400 | 4,520 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | CA | $80,870 | 190 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $79,440 | 5,410 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $78,220 | 2,010 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $77,130 | 1,890 |
| Columbus, OH | OH | $72,480 | 640 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $70,700 | 19,130 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | NJ | $70,700 | 320 |
Top Industries Employing Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
The bulk of bus drivers, transit and intercity are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 54,100 | $48,980 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,530 | $42,350 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,030 | $39,260 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 920 | $34,630 |
| Educational Services | 580 | $47,830 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 450 | $45,930 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 340 | $44,370 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 210 | $32,530 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Use
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of bus drivers, transit and intercity tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Spend Time Sitting
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
- Contact With Others
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Frequency of Decision Making
Getting Started in This Career
Most bus drivers, transit and intercity positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Transit and Railroad Police (Supplemental)
- School Bus Monitors (Primary-Short)
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops (Supplemental)
- Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks (Supplemental)
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance (Supplemental)
- Air Traffic Controllers (Supplemental)
- Airfield Operations Specialists (Supplemental)
- Flight Attendants (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Future bus drivers, transit and intercity typically earn programs in:
Transportation and Materials Moving
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
This profile draws on 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: 53-3052.00 (Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity).
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.