Bus Drivers, School Salary in California

Bus Drivers, Schools in California have a median annual salary of $61,040, which works out to about $29.35 per hour, with a typical 25th–75th percentile range of $51,110 to $70,570, based on the latest BLS OEWS data.

53-3051 · Bus Drivers, School

Bus Drivers, School pay in California at a glance

Median annual salary

$61,040

Median hourly wage

$29.35/hr

Average annual salary

$60,520

Average hourly wage

$29.10/hr

25th percentile

$51,110

75th percentile

$70,570

10th percentile

$45,870

90th percentile

$73,680

People employed

16,600

Salary distribution

Reported wage points from the lowest to the highest paid bus drivers, school roles in California.

10th percentile
$45,870
25th percentile
$51,110
Median percentile
$61,040
75th percentile
$70,570
90th percentile
$73,680

California vs U.S. salary

The median salary for bus drivers, school roles in California is about 27.4% above the U.S. median of $47,920 for the same occupation.

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How much does a bus drivers, school make in California?

Half of bus drivers, school roles in California report earning more than $61,040 a year and half report earning less — that is the median. The mean (average) of $60,520 is pulled up or down by the highest and lowest earners, which is why the median is usually the better benchmark.

Salary range

A quarter of reported salaries fall below $51,110 and a quarter are above $70,570, so most bus drivers, school pay sits between those two figures. These percentiles describe how pay is spread across all reported roles — they are not a direct measure of years of experience.

What can affect bus drivers, school pay?

  • Years of experience and level of responsibility
  • Employer type and size
  • Specialization within the occupation
  • Certifications and licensing
  • Industry
  • Hours worked, shift patterns and overtime
  • The local labor market where the job is based

Bus Drivers, School pay in other states

Related jobs in California

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Methodology · Data sources

Salary figures are benchmarks and can vary by employer, experience, specialization, hours worked and other factors.