How to become a School Bus Driver
Official title: Bus Drivers, School
Also called: Bus Drive Coordinator, Bus Driver Route Coordinator, CDL Bus Driver (Commercial Driver's License Bus Driver), Public School Bus Driver, School Bus Driver, School Van Driver, Shuttle Bus Driver, SPED Bus Driver (Special Education Bus Driver), SPED School Bus Driver (Special Education School Bus Driver), Student Driver
Drive a school bus to transport students. Ensure adherence to safety rules. May assist students in boarding or exiting.
Main tasks
- Comply with traffic regulations to operate vehicles in a safe and courteous manner.
- Follow safety rules as students board and exit buses or cross streets near bus stops.
- Check 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.
- 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.
How to become one
Bus drivers must have a commercial driver's license (CDL), which they sometimes earn during on-the-job training. They also need a good driving record and must meet physical, hearing, and vision requirements. In addition, bus drivers typically need a high school diploma or the equivalent and may be required to pass a background check.
Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Licence: A licence is required in 28 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $47,920 a year The middle half earn $38,650 to $58,430.
- About 396,800 people work in this job now, and about 399,700 are projected by 2035. (+0.7%)
- People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Related jobs
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Questions people ask
How do I become a School Bus Driver?
Bus drivers must have a commercial driver's license (CDL), which they sometimes earn during on-the-job training. They also need a good driving record and must meet physical, hearing, and vision requirements. In addition, bus drivers typically need a high school diploma or the equivalent and may be required to pass a background check.
How much does a School Bus Driver earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $47,920 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $38,650 to $58,430.
Is a School Bus Driver a growing career in the US?
Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 396,800 people now and 399,700 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a School Bus Driver?
Usually not. Only 13% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of a School Bus Driver?
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.