Bus Drivers, School pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,280 a year or less, while the top 10% make $74,150 or more. The middle half of bus drivers, school in Washington earn between $48,870 and $62,450.
- $38K10th
- $49K25th
- $58KMedian
- $62K75th
- $74K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,650 | $4,721 | $27.24 |
| Median | $57,610 | $4,801 | $27.70 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,870 | $4,072 | $23.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $62,450 | $5,204 | $30.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bus Drivers, School pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Bus drivers, school in Washington earn 4% more than the Washington, D.C. average ($54,630) and 17% more than the U.S. average ($48,430). At the median the gap is +20% against the U.S. median of $47,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $56,650 | $57,610 | $38,280 | $74,150 | 8,620 |
| Washington, D.C. | $54,630 | $55,450 | $51,850 | $55,480 | 510 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $56,650, a single filer in Washington takes home about $45,463 a year, or $3,789 a month and $1,749 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $45,974 | $3,831 |
| Working in DC | $45,463 | $3,789 |
| Working in VA | $45,255 | $3,771 |
| Working in MD | $45,219 | $3,768 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for bus drivers, school? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $56,650 buys what about $52,028 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 10.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Bus Drivers, School salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$41,090
- Baltimore, MD$55,130
- Winchester, VA$46,050
- Lexington Park, MD$55,860
- Chambersburg, PA$45,340
- Harrisonburg, VA$49,300
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 Washington: questions
How much do bus drivers, school make an hour in Washington?
$27.24 an hour on average, and $27.70 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bus drivers, school salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,280 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,870, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bus drivers, school take-home pay in Washington?
About $45,463 a year ($3,789 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,650.
Do bus drivers, school earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% more 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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 state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.06, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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