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Bus Drivers, School

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure

What they do

Drive a school bus to transport students. Ensure adherence to safety rules. May assist students in boarding or exiting.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $47,920 Median per year · $23.04/hr Most earn $29,240–$65,730

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Comply with traffic regulations to operate vehicles in a safe and courteous manner.
  • Report any bus malfunctions or needed repairs.
  • Pick up and drop off students at regularly scheduled neighborhood locations, following strict time schedules.
  • Escort small children across roads and highways.
  • Drive gasoline, diesel, or electrically powered multi-passenger vehicles to transport students between neighborhoods, schools, and school activities.
  • Maintain order among students during trips to ensure safety.

Job outlook

United States
1% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 56,500 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Elementary and secondary schools50.0%
  • School and employee bus transportation34.2%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals11.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: Up to 1 month

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: Up to 1 monthEntry-level

School bus driving is an entry-level job. Most people can start once they finish high school, and the usual prior experience is up to about 1 month, mostly for training and licensing.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school with a clean attendance and good driving-safety habits. This is the basic education most school bus driver jobs ask for.

  2. School bus driver training and licensing

    Up to 1 month

    Complete your state's required training, which usually includes a commercial driver's license (CDL) with a school bus endorsement, plus a driving test and background check. Requirements vary by state, so check with your state DMV or your local school district.

  3. School Bus Driver

    Ongoing

    Drive a route safely, follow traffic and safety rules, and help students board and exit. Many drivers stay in this job for years or move on to the roles listed below.

Where it can lead

  1. Transit Bus Driver

    3-6 months of experience first

    You would drive larger city or regional buses on fixed routes for the public, with more traffic and more passengers to manage. Moving up usually means a stronger driving record and comfort with busier routes.

  2. Shuttle Driver

    2-4 years of experience first

    You would drive vans or buses for hotels, airports, or companies, often with customer service duties. This usually takes several years of driving experience and a strong record of reliability.

  3. Dispatcher

    1-2 years of experience first

    You would schedule drivers and routes and respond to delays or emergencies from an office. This job suits drivers who like planning and communicating, and it usually requires some experience on the road first.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take driver's educationA driver's ed class builds safe driving habits and can start you on the path to a learner's permit.
  • Get a part-time job working with kids or peopleJobs like camp counselor, babysitter, or store cashier teach responsibility and calm communication, which bus drivers use every day.
  • Volunteer with a youth group or school eventHelping supervise kids shows you can keep groups safe and follow rules, which districts look for in drivers.
  • Take a first aid or CPR classMany schools or local groups offer these, and they show employers you can respond calmly in an emergency.
  • Strengthen reading and math skillsYou will read route sheets, safety rules, and licensing manuals, so solid reading and basic math help you succeed in training.

In college

  • Take a first aid, CPR, or child development courseThese courses build skills in emergency response and working with young children, both useful for school bus work.
  • Get a part-time job that involves driving or customer serviceA delivery, valet, or customer-facing job builds a driving record and shows you can be responsible on the road.
  • Start your CDL process if you are old enoughMany states allow you to begin CDL training around age 18 or older, and a school bus endorsement can open doors right away.
  • Work or volunteer with a school or youth programHelping with school events, sports teams, or after-school programs gives you experience supervising students.
  • Join a student safety or leadership groupGroups focused on safety or leadership show employers you take rules seriously and can guide others.

Tips for getting started

  • Check your state's rules now. Look up your DMV's requirements for a CDL and school bus endorsement, including the minimum age and medical exam, so you know what to plan for.
  • Protect your driving record. Avoid tickets and accidents, since school districts check driving history before hiring and it shapes your options later.
  • Get comfortable around kids. Volunteering or working with children shows districts you can stay calm and patient on a bus full of students.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

  • Ground Transportation Certificate: typical pay 1 year after finishing $48,327 a year · typical debt $6,365

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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