Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity

Transportation, Distribution and LogisticsO*NET 53-3052.00United States

Drive bus or motor coach, including regular route operations, charters, and private carriage. May assist passengers with baggage.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $58,447
Projected change: +7.8%
Typical education: High school diploma or less
Employment: 173.83K jobs

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

The work

What bus drivers, transit and intercity do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

Drive vehicles over specified routes or to specified destinations according to time schedules, complying with traffic regulations to ensure that passengers have a smooth and safe ride.
Inspect vehicles and check gas, oil, and water levels prior to departure.
Park vehicles at loading areas so that passengers can board.
Announce stops to passengers.
Assist passengers, such as elderly or individuals with disabilities, on and off bus, ensure they are seated properly, help carry baggage, and answer questions about bus schedules or routes.
Collect tickets or cash fares from passengers.
Report delays or accidents.
Handle passenger emergencies or disruptions.
Advise passengers to be seated and orderly while on vehicles.
Regulate heating, lighting, and ventilating systems for passenger comfort.
Record information, such as cash receipts and ticket fares, and maintain log book.
Maintain cleanliness of bus or motor coach.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $39,367
25th percentile: $46,928
50th percentile: $58,447
75th percentile: $70,609
90th percentile: $87,235

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $58,447 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+7.8%faster than average

2025173,834 jobs

2035 projected187,469 jobs

13,635 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less: 96.8%
Certificate: 1.7%
Some college: 1.5%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

Pre-Trip And Post-Trip Vehicle Inspections
Good Driving Record
Bus Driving
Loading And Unloading
Lifting Ability
First Aid
Vehicle Maintenance
Safety Procedures
Oil and Gas
Traffic Regulations
Two-Way Radios
Vehicle Inspection
Air Brakes
Commercial Driving
Occupational Safety And Health
Safety Standards
Working With Children
Wheelchair Lifts
Emergency Procedures
Defensive Driving

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Bus Drivers6,501 postings
02CDL Bus Drivers1,000 postings
03Substitute Bus Drivers949 postings
04Shuttle Drivers604 postings
05Bus Operators553 postings
06Childcare Bus Drivers381 postings
07Custodians/Bus Drivers344 postings
08Charter Bus Drivers332 postings
09Transportation Bus Drivers296 postings
10CDL-A Truck Drivers289 postings
11Courtesy Bus Drivers197 postings
12Ambulette Drivers196 postings
13Transit Bus Drivers194 postings
14Bus Driver Trainers175 postings
15First Year Experience Mentors171 postings
16Van Drivers148 postings
17School Bus Drivers144 postings
18Motorcoach Operators142 postings
19Drivers130 postings
20Route Drivers124 postings

Top employers

01Coachman Luxury Transport453 postings
02Greyhound Lines363 postings
03Edjoin.Org294 postings
04Transdev206 postings
05State Of West Virginia197 postings
06Tlc Transportation197 postings
07Transportation195 postings
08YMCA146 postings
09Childcare Network121 postings
10Avis Budget Group110 postings
11Academy Bus109 postings
12Learning Care Group89 postings
13First Student84 postings
14Ratp Dev USA78 postings
15Wayne-Finger Lakes Boces78 postings
16Trilogy Health Services76 postings
17Transportation Department74 postings
18Wedriveu61 postings
19American Senior Communities57 postings
20Durham School Services57 postings

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