Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
Also called: Bus Driver, Bus Operator, CDL Bus Driver (Commercial Driver's License Bus Driver), Charter Bus Driver, Charter Coach Driver, Charter Driver, City Bus Driver, Coach Operator
Drive bus or motor coach, including regular route operations, charters, and private carriage.
What bus drivers, transit and intercity do
Typical tasks
- Drive vehicles over specified routes or to specified destinations according to time schedules, complying with traffic regulations to ensure that passengers have a smooth and safe ride.
- Park vehicles at loading areas so that passengers can board.
- Inspect vehicles and check gas, oil, and water levels prior to departure.
- Announce stops to passengers.
- Assist passengers, such as elderly or individuals with disabilities, on and off bus, ensure they are seated properly, help carry baggage, and answer questions about bus schedules or routes.
- Collect tickets or cash fares from passengers.
- Handle passenger emergencies or disruptions.
- Report delays or accidents.
- Advise passengers to be seated and orderly while on vehicles.
- Regulate heating, lighting, and ventilating systems for passenger comfort.
- Record information, such as cash receipts and ticket fares, and maintain log book.
- Maintain cleanliness of bus or motor coach.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary
The median annual wage for bus drivers, transit and intercity is $59,050 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $40,030 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $84,700. The mean annual wage is $60,280.
The mean hourly wage of $28.00 is 3.9× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $59,050 → in 3 years $64,700 → in 5 years $68,800 → in 10 years $80,100 (10-year range $68,900–$93,000). The model assumes pay growth of +3.1% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity United States | 路線バス運転士 Japan | 観光バス運転士 Japan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $59,050 | ¥4.53M ≈ $28,813 | ¥4.53M ≈ $28,813 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $80,100 | ¥6.29M | ¥6.27M |
| Outlook score | 57 | 62 | 61 |
| AI replacement risk | 38% Low | 28% Low | 33% Low |
| Workers | 159K | — | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★☆☆☆☆ Easy to enter (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become bus drivers, transit and intercity
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as bus drivers, transit and intercity
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.