The average salary for a bus driver in North Carolina is around $44,060 per year.
Avg Salary
Bus drivers earn an average yearly salary of $44,060.
Wages typically start from $35,610 and go up to $57,330.
36% below national average Updated in 2025
Bus driver earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level bus driver earnings begin at:
$27.56 per hour
$57,330 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level bus driver earnings begin at:
$22.52 per hour
$46,840 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level bus driver earnings begin at:
$21.18 per hour
$44,060 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level bus driver earnings begin at:
$19.21 per hour
$39,960 per year
10th percentile
Starting level bus driver earnings begin at:
$17.12 per hour
$35,610 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 North Carolina. On average, they make less than truck drivers but more than taxi drivers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Truck driver salary | $52K |
| Cargo and freight agent salary | $48K |
| Highway maintenance worker salary | $48K |
| Sailor salary | $45K |
| Ship loader salary | $45K |
| Bus driver salary | $44K |
| Shipping/Receiving clerk salary | $43K |
| Delivery service driver salary | $40K |
| Courier salary | $39K |
| Taxi driver salary | $37K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)