How to become a bus driver, subway operator or other transit operator
Official title: Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators
Also called: Bus driver, Bus operator, Shuttle operator, School bus driver, Tour bus operator, Charter bus driver, Motor coach driver, Shuttle bus driver, Streetcar operator, Intercity bus driver, Trolley bus operator, Trolley coach driver
Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators drive buses and operate streetcars, subway trains and light rail transit vehicles to transport passengers on established routes. Bus drivers are employed by urban transit systems, school boards or transportation authorities and private transportation companies. Streetcar, subway and light rail transit operators are employed by urban transit systems.
Main tasks
- Bus drivers and streetcar operators
- Drive buses or streetcars to transport passengers along established routes to local destinations
- Drive buses to transport passengers and goods to intercity or long distance destinations
- Drive sightseeing tour buses to transport passengers locally or over long distances
- Drive buses equipped for wheelchair accessibility, and aid passengers in boarding
- Provide passengers with information on fares, schedules and stops
- Collect fares, issue and validate transfers, check bus passes and record transactions
- Conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections of vehicle
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Up to three months of on-the-job training, including classroom instruction, is usually provided for all occupations in this unit group. A minimum of one year of safe driving experience is required. Bus drivers require a Class B, C, E or F driver's licence in Ontario, and a Class 2 driver's licence is required in all other provinces and the territories. An air brakes endorsement and first aid certificate may be required. Experience as a public transit bus driver is usually required for subway and light rail transit operators.
Ways in
- Licence or registration: Bus drivers require a Class B, C, E or F driver's licence in Ontario, and a Class 2 driver's licence is required in all other provinces and the territories.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $48,750 a year The middle half earn $39,000 to $64,974.
- About 101,000 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 118,100 are projected by 2033. (+16.9%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a bus driver, subway operator or other transit operator?
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Up to three months of on-the-job training, including classroom instruction, is usually provided for all occupations in this unit group. A minimum of one year of safe driving experience is required. Bus drivers require a Class B, C, E or F driver's licence in Ontario, and a Class 2 driver's licence is required in all other provinces and the territories. An air brakes endorsement and first aid certificate may be required. Experience as a public transit bus driver is usually required for subway and light rail transit operators.
How much does a bus driver, subway operator or other transit operator earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $48,750 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $39,000 to $64,974.
Is a bus driver, subway operator or other transit operator a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 17% by 2033, from about 101,000 to about 118,100 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a bus driver, subway operator or other transit operator?
Usually not. Only 12% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03