Bus Drivers, School pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,740 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,980 or more. The middle half of bus drivers, school in Knoxville earn between $27,220 and $48,360.
- $26K10th
- $27K25th
- $31KMedian
- $48K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,390 | $3,032 | $17.50 |
| Median | $31,340 | $2,612 | $15.07 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,220 | $2,268 | $13.09 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,360 | $4,030 | $23.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bus Drivers, School pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Bus drivers, school in Knoxville earn 16% less than the Tennessee average ($43,400) and 25% less than the U.S. average ($48,430). At the median the gap is -35% against the U.S. median of $47,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $36,390 | $31,340 | $25,740 | $48,980 | 730 |
| Tennessee | $43,400 | $44,510 | $22,900 | $61,600 | 7,050 |
| United States | $48,430 | $47,920 | $29,240 | $65,730 | 402,930 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bus Drivers, School salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $36,390, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $31,419 a year, or $2,618 a month and $1,208 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for bus drivers, school? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $36,390 buys what about $39,311 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 10.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Bus Drivers, School salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 6th of 7 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Jackson pays the most ($48,930).
- Jackson$48,930
- Nashville$48,890
- Kingsport$47,500
- Chattanooga$39,250
- Memphis$39,240
- Knoxville$36,390
- Clarksville$33,460
Highest-paying cities for bus drivers, school
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($70,900).
- San Jose, CA$70,900
- San Francisco, CA$69,190
- Napa, CA$68,150
- Mount Vernon, WA$68,110
- Seattle, WA$67,350
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Bus Drivers, School salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do bus drivers, school make an hour in Knoxville?
$17.49 an hour on average, and $15.07 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bus drivers, school salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,740 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,220, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bus drivers, school take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $31,419 a year ($2,618 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,390. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do bus drivers, school earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% less than the U.S. average for this job ($48,430).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-3051; area Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.66, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.66).
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