Bus Driver Salary
Bus drivers are those dependable people who many rely on to travel to and from common, everyday places. Some take the bus to go to work, while other need to make it to school. Some take it due to the lack of other transportation, while others ride the bus to help save on gas. There are three general categories of bus drivers, the school bus driver, the drivers of public transportation buses, and those who drive private, chartered buses, with the average bus driver salary increasing respectively. Each bus driver is in charge of the safety and well-being of their passengers. While a bus is a safe vehicle in the proper hands, each bus driver must be a responsible and good driver.
The average bus driver will follow a number of routes during the average work day. Most school and public transportation bus drivers will follow the same route every day, allowing them the ability to establish a bond or relationship with the passengers they see on a regular basis.
Bus drivers must have a commercial drivers license (CDL). This means they have the skills and capability to safely driver a larger vehicle on the same street as a small vehicle safely. Federal and state law require all bus drivers to have these standard qualifications. The CDL is required for those looking to driver a bus, a semi truck, or any other large automotive vehicle.
Aside from that basic requirement, most only require a high school diploma as far as education goes. There are other specific requirements that are needed to be come a bus driver. You will need a clean driving record, and depending on the type of bus driver you are going to be, a clean criminal record. School bus drivers must have a clean criminal record, especially one that's clean of offenses involving children.
Public transportation bus drivers who drive between urban areas and through rural areas typically make the highest average bus driver salary. They typically make between $17 and $18 an hour, with other public transportation bus drivers average salary coming in between $12 and $25. The average salary of a public transportation bus driver is around $15.50. Your route can actually effect you rate of pay, with those working in high crime areas earning between $1 and $2 an hour more.
The school bus driver, who is the far more common type of bus driver, makes much less on average. Most are hired only on a part-time basis, work minimal hours, and are only seasonal employees, since summer normally see these large yellow transportation vehicles in the garage. The average school bus driver salary is only around $11 an hour, with many hitting the cap at only $13.
If you are looking to earn some extra cash, taking on a temporary school bus driver position can help. While the job may not be the highest paying, it does allow for some flexibility, especially for those who have no higher education or college degrees.
