Occupations53-3051.00

Bus Drivers, School

Drive a school bus to transport students.

Median annual pay
$47,040

BLS, 2024

Employment
387,300

U.S., 2024

Ten-year outlook
+0.2%

2024–34

Annual openings
61,000

Projected average

The work

Core tasks

  1. 01Comply with traffic regulations to operate vehicles in a safe and courteous manner.
  2. 02Follow safety rules as students board and exit buses or cross streets near bus stops.
  3. 03Check the condition of a vehicle's tires, brakes, windshield wipers, lights, oil, fuel, water, and safety equipment to ensure that everything is in working order.
  4. 04Report any bus malfunctions or needed repairs.
  5. 05Pick up and drop off students at regularly scheduled neighborhood locations, following strict time schedules.
  6. 06Drive gasoline, diesel, or electrically powered multi-passenger vehicles to transport students between neighborhoods, schools, and school activities.
  7. 07Maintain order among students during trips to ensure safety.
  8. 08Prepare and submit reports that may include the number of students or trips, hours worked, mileage, or fuel consumption.
  9. 09Maintain knowledge of first-aid procedures.
  10. 10Record bus routes.
  11. 11Report delays, accidents, or other traffic and transportation situations, using telephones or mobile two-way radios.
  12. 12Keep bus interiors clean for students.

Capabilities

Essential skills

Active ListeningCritical ThinkingMonitoringSpeakingReading ComprehensionWritingActive LearningLearning StrategiesMathematicsScience

Employment outlook

Where the role is heading

U.S. employment is projected to move from 387,300 in 2024 to 388,200 in 2034, a +0.2% change.

BLS projects an average of 61,000 openings each year over the period, including openings created by workers leaving the occupation.