The average salary for a bus driver in California is around $67,130 per year.
Avg Salary
Bus drivers earn an average yearly salary of $67,130.
Wages typically start from $48,600 and go up to $90,810.
18% below national average Updated in 2025
Bus driver earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level bus driver earnings begin at:
$43.66 per hour
$90,810 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level bus driver earnings begin at:
$36.98 per hour
$76,920 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level bus driver earnings begin at:
$32.27 per hour
$67,130 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level bus driver earnings begin at:
$26.70 per hour
$55,540 per year
10th percentile
Starting level bus driver earnings begin at:
$23.37 per hour
$48,600 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Bus driver salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $84,480 |
| Washington | $72,280 |
| Hawaii | $68,500 |
| California | $67,130 |
| Oregon | $65,510 |
| Massachusetts | $65,460 |
| Maryland | $65,220 |
| Illinois | $65,200 |
| Alaska | $64,150 |
| Colorado | $63,010 |
| Ohio | $62,760 |
| Nevada | $61,700 |
| New Jersey | $61,140 |
| Missouri | $60,660 |
| Delaware | $60,510 |
| Connecticut | $60,100 |
| Indiana | $58,410 |
| Maine | $57,870 |
| District of Columbia | $55,580 |
| New Hampshire | $54,830 |
| Kentucky | $54,550 |
| Arizona | $53,870 |
| Vermont | $53,830 |
| Virginia | $52,940 |
| Wisconsin | $52,660 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,360 |
| Utah | $50,730 |
| Oklahoma | $50,300 |
| Minnesota | $50,200 |
| Idaho | $49,000 |
| North Dakota | $48,890 |
| Louisiana | $48,860 |
| Texas | $48,740 |
| Rhode Island | $48,610 |
| Florida | $48,300 |
| Tennessee | $47,770 |
| Michigan | $47,660 |
| Iowa | $45,890 |
| Montana | $45,640 |
| Wyoming | $45,630 |
| New Mexico | $45,610 |
| Georgia | $45,500 |
| Nebraska | $45,120 |
| North Carolina | $44,060 |
| South Carolina | $43,330 |
| South Dakota | $41,590 |
| Kansas | $41,340 |
| West Virginia | $39,260 |
| Mississippi | $38,570 |
| Alabama | $37,700 |
| Arkansas | $37,520 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,990 |
| Guam | $19,750 |
How do bus driver salaries compare to similar careers?
Bus drivers earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than aircraft mechanics but more than sailors.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Aircraft mechanic salary | $86K |
| Flight attendant salary | $82K |
| Traffic technician salary | $79K |
| Locomotive engineer salary | $77K |
| Ship loader salary | $69K |
| Bus driver salary | $67K |
| Rail transportation worker salary | $67K |
| Truck driver salary | $60K |
| Cargo and freight agent salary | $58K |
| Sailor salary | $55K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)