School bus drivers: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
School bus drivers transport students to and from school and other activities. On school days, drivers pick up students in the morning and return them home in the afternoon. They also drive students to field trips, sporting events, and other activities. Between morning and afternoon trips, some drivers work at schools in other occupations, such as janitors, cafeteria workers, or mechanics. School bus drivers typically do the following:
- Ensure the safety of children getting on and off the bus
- Attend to the needs of children with disabilities
- Keep order and safety on the school bus
- Understand and enforce the school systems rules of conduct
- Report disciplinary problems to the school district or parents
- Education Required
- Most employers prefer drivers to have a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Training Required
- Bus drivers typically go through 1 to 3 months of training, but those who already possess a CDL license may have a shorter training period. Part of the training is spent on a driving course, where drivers practice various maneuvers with a bus. They then begin to drive in light traffic and eventually make practice runs on the type of route that they expect to drive. New drivers make regularly scheduled trips with passengers and are accompanied by an experienced driver who gives helpful tips, answers questions, and evaluates the new driver's performance.
- Job Outlook
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The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 6% (As fast as average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Licenses/Certifications
- All bus drivers must have a commercial drivers license (CDL). Some new bus drivers can earn their CDL during on-the-job training. The qualifications for getting one vary by state but generally include passing both knowledge and driving tests. States have the right not to issue a license to someone who has had a CDL suspended by another state.
- Median pay: How much do Bus Drivers make?
- $31,920 Annual Salary
- $15.35 per hour
Careers for Bus Drivers
- Charter bus drivers
- Charter coach drivers
- Drivers, bus
- Drivers, charter bus
- Drivers, charter coach
- Drivers, intercity bus
- Drivers, motor coach
- Drivers, motor coach tour
- Drivers, public transit
- Drivers, school bus
- Drivers, special education
- Drivers, trolley
- Intercity bus drivers
- Local transit bus drivers
- Motor coach bus drivers
- Motor coach drivers
- Motor coach tour drivers
- Public transit bus drivers
- Public transit trolley drivers
- School bus operators
- Special education bus drivers