The average salary for a bus driver in Tennessee is around $47,770 per year.
Avg Salary
Bus drivers earn an average yearly salary of $47,770.
Wages typically start from $39,530 and go up to $58,900.
22% below national average Updated in 2025
Bus driver earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level bus driver earnings begin at:
$28.32 per hour
$58,900 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level bus driver earnings begin at:
$28.32 per hour
$58,900 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level bus driver earnings begin at:
$22.97 per hour
$47,770 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level bus driver earnings begin at:
$21.87 per hour
$45,480 per year
10th percentile
Starting level bus driver earnings begin at:
$19.01 per hour
$39,530 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 Tennessee. On average, they make less than rail transportation workers but more than shipping/receiving clerks.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Rail transportation worker salary | $54K |
| Sailor salary | $61K |
| Truck driver salary | $59K |
| Cargo and freight agent salary | $52K |
| Travel agent salary | $56K |
| Bus driver salary | $48K |
| Traffic technician salary | $45K |
| Delivery service driver salary | $45K |
| Highway maintenance worker salary | $46K |
| Shipping/Receiving clerk salary | $45K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)