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.
17% 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 6% less than similar careers in California. On average, they make less than aircraft mechanics but more than cargo and freight agents.
| 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 |
| Highway maintenance worker salary | $60K |
| Truck driver salary | $60K |
| Cargo and freight agent salary | $58K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)