Bus Drivers, School salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Bus Drivers, School in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median of $46,020 a year ($22.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,970 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,980 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $47,920. Pay here is 23% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $37,460. There are 2.9 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $43,450, close to the median.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,310 | $16.98 |
| 25th percentile | $37,480 | $18.02 |
| Median | $46,020 | $22.12 |
| 75th percentile | $46,740 | $22.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,980 | $24.03 |
| Average (mean) | $43,450 | $20.89 |
Half of bus drivers, school earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,835 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,917.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,770 |
| Weekly | $885 |
| Hourly | $22.12 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $46,020 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Bus Drivers, School salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $50,190 | 2,390 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $46,460 | 950 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $45,630 | 370 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $43,940 | n/a |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $40,650 | 500 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $40,600 | 270 |
| Asheville, NC | $38,620 | 260 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $38,530 | 2,120 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $37,280 | 1,030 |
| Burlington, NC | $36,990 | 70 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $36,970 | 250 |
| Columbia, SC | $36,960 | 990 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $36,820 | 630 |
| Greenville, NC | $36,500 | 190 |
| Wilmington, NC | $36,490 | 140 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $35,790 | 60 |
| Florence, SC | $35,460 | 310 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $35,190 | 130 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $35,050 | 450 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $31,650 | 140 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $30,070 | 350 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $21,220 | 460 |
Highest-paying states for bus drivers, school
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $65,170 |
| Washington | $63,370 |
| Connecticut | $61,520 |
| California | $61,040 |
| New Jersey | $59,430 |
| Hawaii | $59,090 |
| Rhode Island | $58,700 |
| New York | $56,640 |
| Vermont | $56,580 |
| Maryland | $56,450 |
See Bus Drivers, School pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,120 | $26.98 |
| Light Truck Driver | $42,860 | $20.61 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $37,830 | $18.19 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $33,500 | $16.11 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $42,830 | $20.59 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $29,410 | $14.14 |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | $37,420 | $17.99 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,850 | $18.68 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $43,880 | $21.10 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $63,470 | $30.51 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $31,260 | $15.03 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $151,540 | — |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-3051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus drivers, school make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $46,020 a year, or $22.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn at least $49,980 a year. The top 25% earn $46,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,310 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $37,480 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
About 3,970 bus drivers, school are employed in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.