How much does a bus drivers, transit and intercity make?

The median bus drivers, transit and intercity salary in the United States is $59,050 per year ($28.39/hour). Salaries range from $40,030 (10th percentile) to $84,700 (90th percentile). There are 159,240 bus drivers, transit and intercity jobs in the U.S. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.

Which state pays bus drivers, transit and intercitys the most?

The highest paying state for bus drivers, transit and intercitys is New York at $84,480 median salary.

Is bus drivers, transit and intercity a good career?

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity employment is projected to grow 4.3% from 2024 to 2034 (as fast as average). There are approximately 20,900 job openings per year. Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent.

What certifications should bus drivers, transit and intercitys get?

Top-ROI certifications for bus drivers, transit and intercitys: CDL Class B with Passenger (P) + Air Brake endorsements ($3-6k private CDL school; $0 through agency-paid programs (MTA, WMATA, LA Metro, Greyhound, FlixBus)); DOT medical card — renewed every 24 months (or 12 months for some conditions) ($75-125 at a certified medical examiner); American Red Cross First Aid + CPR + AED certification ($75-125 for a 6-hour class).

How do you negotiate a bus drivers, transit and intercity salary?

Anchor on documented market data (BLS median $59,050, p75 $70,700), specific outcomes you've delivered, and the specific band for your years of experience. I've been operating at Metro Transit for 8 years, now at top-scale under the ATU Local 265 contract at $34/hr base with a weekday straight-through bid, zero preventable accidents lifetime, and instructor-cadre certifica...

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Salary

Q: What interview questions are asked for bus drivers, transit and intercity roles?

Common bus drivers, transit and intercity interview questions include: "Walk me through your pre-trip inspection on a 40-foot low-floor transit bus.", "A rider refuses to pay the fare and starts yelling at you. What do you do?", "Tell me about a time you had a medical emergency on your bus.". Interview format at top employers ranges from behavioral panels (STAR method) to technical case rounds — for example MTA New York City Transit (TWU Local 100 / Local 726) typically uses 3-4 stages over 3-6 months (agency timeline).

Q: What is the career ladder for bus drivers, transit and intercitys?

The typical bus drivers, transit and intercity career ladder: Part-Time / Extraboard Operator (0-2 yrs) (0-2 yrs, $40-52k ($22-28/hr) — extraboard OT can push $55-62k) → Full-Time Bid Operator / Motorcoach Driver (2-8 yrs) (2-8 yrs, $52-72k + overtime, shift differential, weekend premium) → Senior Operator / Top-Scale Union Driver (8-20 yrs) (8-20 yrs, $70-95k + overtime + pension credit) → Instructor / Dispatcher / Transportation Supervisor (10+ yrs) (10+ yrs, $72-105k salaried + benefits + pension).

The median bus drivers, transit and intercity salary in the United States is $59,050 per year ($28.39/hour). Salaries range from $40,030 at the entry level to $84,700+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 159,240 bus drivers, transit and intercity jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 4.3% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median Salary

$59,050

per year

Hourly Rate

$28.39

per hour

Employment

159,240

jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile

$40,030

25th percentile

$47,530

Median

$59,050

75th percentile

$70,700

90th percentile

$84,700

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+4.3%

As fast as average

Annual Openings

20,900

jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

High school diploma or equivalent

Training Needed

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for bus drivers, transit and intercitys.

Transit and intercity bus drivers move riders on scheduled routes for public agencies (MTA in New York, CTA in Chicago, LA Metro, WMATA in DC, SEPTA in Philadelphia) and private intercity carriers (Greyhound, FlixBus, Peter Pan, Megabus, motorcoach charter). The job is regulated by the FMCSA — a CDL Class B with Passenger (P) and Air Brake endorsements is required, plus a School Bus (S) endorsement for school-district work. Pay is heavily union-driven: ATU (Amalgamated Transit Union) and TWU (Transport Workers Union) contracts set scale by seniority, and top-of-scale MTA operators clear $80-95k with overtime and shift differentials. Median $59,050; 10th percentile $40,030; 90th percentile $84,700. Employment 159,240. New York MTA and metros in high-cost cities anchor the top of the range; smaller-city transit and rural motorcoach sit closer to the middle. This is one of the few blue-collar careers where a strong pension and healthcare package still exists.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

CDL Class B with Passenger (P) and Air Brake endorsements

Legally required. Add School Bus (S) endorsement for district driving. All FMCSA drug/alcohol clearinghouse rules apply — a single positive or refused test creates a permanent record and blocks CDL work for years.

Defensive urban driving & passenger safety

Bus operators cause fewer accidents per mile than most CDL drivers but the consequences are higher — a hard brake with standing passengers causes injuries and claims. Smith System 5 Keys, mirror scanning every 5-8 seconds, and consistent 4-8 second following distance are what agencies coach on.

Fare collection & rider interaction (transit)

MTA OMNY tap-to-pay, CTA Ventra, LA Metro TAP card, plus cash and paper transfers. Drivers de-escalate fare disputes without engaging, per agency policy. Never argue over a $2.90 fare — the ATU contract protects you if you follow the policy.

Motorcoach passenger service (intercity)

Baggage stowage, ADA lift operation, luggage tags, en-route ticket checks, PA announcements at rest stops. Charter drivers manage the trip experience — schools, sports teams, tour groups — with tips and gratuity a real income lever for senior drivers.

Route bidding & shift structure (union)

Under ATU / TWU contracts, routes and shifts are bid by seniority twice per year (a 'signup' or 'pick'). New operators get split shifts (early AM + PM rush) and least-desirable routes. Senior operators bid straight-through weekday runs with no split.

Hours-of-service (HOS) compliance

FMCSA passenger-carrying rules: 10-hour driving limit, 15-hour on-duty limit, 60/70-hour weekly limit for intercity. Transit operators inside a 100-air-mile radius from home terminal have short-haul exemptions but still track HOS. ELD required on most motorcoaches.

Pre-trip inspection & DVIR

Federally required Class B pre-trip: brakes (air pressure build, low-air warning, cutoff, tug test), tires (tread + inflation), lights, mirrors, wheelchair lift or ramp function, emergency exits, fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, seatbelt (driver), passenger stanchions and pull-cords/strips. Written DVIR every shift.

De-escalation & rider conflict handling

Fare disputes, verbally aggressive riders, mental-health incidents, medical emergencies. Never leave the seat, never engage physically, always call in transit police via radio. WMATA, MTA, and LA Metro all publish specific SOPs — knowing them protects you in a review.

How to Become a Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity

1
Get and maintain a clean regular license for 3+ years (age 21+ for interstate)
Most transit agencies and intercity carriers require age 21+ and a 3- or 5-year clean MVR. Some agencies (MTA, LA Metro) will hire at age 21 with as little as 1 year of clean driving; Greyhound and FlixBus typically require 3 years.
2
Complete a CDL Class B program with Passenger (P), Air Brake, and (optionally) School Bus (S) endorsements
$3-6k at a private CDL school, or $0 at agency-paid programs (MTA, WMATA, LA Metro, Greyhound, FlixBus, and most metros offer paid CDL training). Agency-paid programs commit you to 2-3 years of service in exchange.
3
Pass the DOT physical, drug screen, and background check
DOT physical every 24 months. Random drug/alcohol pool for the life of your CDL. Fingerprint background required for school bus, most transit, and TSA credentials for intercity crossing state lines.
4
Start as a part-time transit operator, extraboard driver, or motorcoach charter driver
$22-30/hr transit entry ($45-60k with OT); $18-24/hr intercity or motorcoach entry. Part-time and extraboard drivers cover open shifts and gain seniority for a full-time bid slot.
5
Bid full-time routes, move up seniority ladder, or advance to instructor/dispatcher/supervisor
$65-95k top-scale union operator with 5-8 years of seniority + OT. Instructors and dispatchers $70-95k. Some drivers move to Class A OTR for higher motorcoach charter or long-haul freight.

Career Progression

Part-Time / Extraboard Operator (0-2 yrs)

0-2 yrs$40-52k ($22-28/hr) — extraboard OT can push $55-62k

•Cover open shifts on rotating basis; no fixed route or schedule
•Split shifts common (AM rush 5-9 am, back on 3-7 pm PM rush)
•Complete probation period (typically 6-12 months) with clean safety record
•Learn the metro route network cold — 30-60 routes in a large agency

Next: Full-time bid operator once probation is cleared and seniority allows.

Full-Time Bid Operator / Motorcoach Driver (2-8 yrs)

2-8 yrs$52-72k + overtime, shift differential, weekend premium

•Bid a straight-through weekday route by seniority (twice-yearly signup)
•Cover charter runs, sports team charters, or fixed intercity routes
•Maintain 0 preventable-accident record for premium bidding position
•Cross-train on articulated (bendy) bus, low-floor, or express coach fleet

Next: Senior operator at 5-10 years — best routes and shift picks.

Senior Operator / Top-Scale Union Driver (8-20 yrs)

8-20 yrs$70-95k + overtime + pension credit

•Bid the best routes and shifts (mid-day straight-through, weekend-off)
•Mentor probationary operators; possible union steward role
•Charter drivers earn tips on tour and sports charter work
•Long-tenure MTA/CTA/WMATA operators clear $85-95k top scale

Next: Instructor, dispatcher, supervisor, or retire on pension.

Instructor / Dispatcher / Transportation Supervisor (10+ yrs)

10+ yrs$72-105k salaried + benefits + pension

•Train new operators on CDL, defensive driving, route knowledge
•Dispatch — manage extraboard, cover open shifts, handle radio calls
•Supervisor — on-road audits, accident investigation, discipline hearings
•Union transition: some management roles are still in ATU/TWU; others become MGT

Next: Assistant / Deputy Director of Transportation, or retirement.

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 19 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through your pre-trip inspection on a 40-foot low-floor transit bus.technical

Start with the engine compartment: fluid levels, belts, hoses, no leaks. Move to the front: headlights, running lights, hazards, wipers, mirrors adjusted. Passenger side and rear: reflective tape, low-floor ramp function, wheelchair lift cycle, emergency exit signage and function, tires and inflation. Interior: driver seat and belt, gauges, dash lights, PA and radio, farebox function, fire extinguisher and first-aid kit within reach and in-date, passenger stanchions and grab rails secure, pull-cord/strip test. Air-brake system: build to governor cutoff (typically 120-140 psi), low-air warning at 60 psi, air-brake tug test in gear, service-brake application. Written DVIR before pulling out. Interviewers want the sequence and the specific pass-fail thresholds, not a vague overview.

Q2. A rider refuses to pay the fare and starts yelling at you. What do you do?situational

Don't argue and don't demand payment a second time. Every major agency policy is the same: request fare once, and if refused, do not detain, do not deny boarding a second time, and continue the route. Note the incident in the daily log or via radio to control. If the rider becomes verbally abusive, notify control on the radio for transit police response at the next stop. Never leave the seat, never physically engage. The ATU contract and agency SOP both protect a driver who follows policy; drivers get in trouble when they escalate. Interviewers want to hear you name the policy — 'per SEPTA / MTA / LA Metro SOP, a single fare denial and then continue.'

Q3. Tell me about a time you had a medical emergency on your bus.behavioral

STAR. Situation: name a specific run — say, midday rush on a downtown route with a passenger who collapses. Task: get the passenger emergency response while keeping the bus and other riders safe. Action: pull to the curb at the nearest safe location, set the parking brake, activate hazards, radio control for EMS, keep the passenger area clear, follow first-aid training (recovery position or CPR if trained), stay on the radio until EMS arrives. Result: EMS on scene in 6-8 minutes, passenger transported, bus back in service after cleaning and 20-minute delay logged. Interviewers want to hear you followed the SOP, didn't try to be a hero, and communicated with control. First aid / CPR certification is a plus but the priority is calling it in.

Q4. Why bus driving and not truck driving or ride-share?culture

The honest answer that resonates: you want the stability of a union job with a pension, the same route every day (once you have seniority), and the direct customer-facing work of transit. Say you looked at OTR trucking and the away-from-home lifestyle doesn't fit; you looked at ride-share and the lack of benefits and unpredictable income don't fit. Naming a specific agency — 'I want to be at the MTA for the ATU contract and the Local 100 pension' — signals you've researched the career, not that you're taking the first CDL job you can get.

Q5. How would you handle a passenger who is clearly experiencing a mental-health crisis?situational

De-escalation first. Speak calmly, don't touch, give them physical space. Continue the route if safe, or pull over at a safe location if not. Radio control for a supervisor and/or mobile crisis team — most major agencies (MTA, WMATA, LA Metro) now have specific mental-health response protocols, not just police-first. Never physically intervene. Never abandon the bus. Never engage verbally beyond calm short answers. Interviewers screen for drivers who know the difference between de-escalation and enforcement — you're a driver, not an officer.

Resume Template — Part-Time / Extraboard Operator (0-2 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Part-Time / Extraboard Operator (0-2 yrs)

▸Operated 40-ft low-floor transit buses on 12 rotating routes across a metro system with 99.7% on-time pull-out and zero preventable accidents in 18 months.
▸Cleared 12-month probation period ranked top-quartile among cohort of 42 new operators; earned first bid pick for full-time slot.
▸CDL Class B with Passenger (P), Air Brake, and School Bus (S) endorsements. Current DOT medical card, clean MVR, no CSA violations.
▸$52k gross ($26/hr entry + shift differential + extraboard overtime). Smith System 5-Keys defensive driving certified; American Red Cross First Aid + CPR + AED.

What Gets You Rejected

✗MVR shows DUI, reckless, or 3+ moving violations in the last 3 years — auto-decline at every transit agency and intercity carrier.
✗Failed or refused a DOT drug/alcohol test — permanent Clearinghouse entry, career-ending in most cases.
✗Cannot pass DOT physical (uncontrolled BP, insulin-managed diabetes without waiver, vision below 20/40 corrected, hearing loss beyond FMCSA threshold).
✗History of engaging with hostile riders instead of calling control — the #1 termination cause for operators outside of accidents.
✗No fluency with agency SOP on fare disputes, ADA lift, mental-health incidents — signals you'll be a liability the first time something happens.
✗Preventable accident within probation period — most agencies auto-terminate on a single preventable during the first 12 months.
✗Discipline history at prior CDL employer for HOS falsification, log-book fraud, or scanner falsification — federally trackable.

Salary Negotiation Levers

✓Union agency — MTA, CTA, WMATA, LA Metro, SEPTA, MBTA scale beats private / non-union carriers by 30-50%. Choose the union job when both are open.
✓Metro cost-of-living premium — MTA New York operators top out at $88-95k; Greyhound driver in a mid-tier metro tops out at $55-65k. Not negotiable within a contract, but locational choice matters.
✓Overtime and shift differential — nights, weekends, and holidays typically pay 1.25x-1.5x. Extraboard drivers who take open shifts frequently push base by $8-15k.
✓Sign-on bonuses — Greyhound, FlixBus, and many suburban / small-metro agencies pay $3-8k sign-ons to CDL Class B P-endorsed applicants.
✓Agency-paid CDL — if you don't yet have a Class B, target agencies that pay training. MTA, WMATA, LA Metro, Greyhound, FlixBus all run paid programs with 2-3 year service commitments.
✓Charter tips (intercity motorcoach) — tour, sports team, and casino charter drivers earn $150-500/day in tips on top of base. Seniority-driven charter bidding is the lever.

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Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →

Salary Map — Click a state for details

$38K

$84K■ No data

Top Paying States

Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.

State	Median	vs. National	Employment
New York	$84,480	+43.1%	16,770
Washington	$72,280	+22.4%	6,960
Hawaii	$68,500	+16.0%	2,190
California	$67,130	+13.7%	24,380
Oregon	$65,510	+10.9%	2,620
Massachusetts	$65,460	+10.9%	3,970
Maryland	$65,220	+10.4%	4,890
Illinois	$65,200	+10.4%	8,650
Alaska	$64,150	+8.6%	250
Colorado	$63,010	+6.7%	3,540

Showing 1–10 of 51

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Salary by Metro Area

Metro Area	Median	vs. National
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$90,460	+53.2%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$83,430	+41.3%
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$80,170	+35.8%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$78,900	+33.6%
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$78,130	+32.3%
Columbus, OH	$73,790	+25.0%
Salinas, CA	$71,290	+20.7%
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	$70,700	+19.7%
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$70,680	+19.7%
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$70,120	+18.7%

Showing 1–10 of 172

Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.

How does this compare to pro athletes?

A bus drivers, transit and intercity earning $59,050/year would need 1009 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1084 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.

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📈 See how bus drivers, transit and intercity salaries have changed over the past decade.

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