Bus Drivers, School salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Bus Drivers, School in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $49,180 a year ($23.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 15,210 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,600 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $47,920. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $49,090. There are 3.4 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $52,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,360 | $18.44 |
| 25th percentile | $47,560 | $22.86 |
| Median | $49,180 | $23.64 |
| 75th percentile | $59,930 | $28.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,600 | $30.10 |
| Average (mean) | $52,260 | $25.12 |
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 | $4,098.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,049.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,891.54 |
| Weekly | $945.77 |
| Hourly | $23.64 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $49,180 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $55,640 | 1,780 |
| Decatur, IL | $54,830 | n/a |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $49,890 | 4,020 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $49,760 | 170 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $49,470 | 410 |
| Bloomington, IN | $48,450 | 230 |
| Evansville, IN | $48,110 | 270 |
| Peoria, IL | $48,100 | 620 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $48,100 | 4,470 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $48,020 | 740 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $47,550 | 70 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $47,350 | 240 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $47,150 | 440 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $46,870 | 2,530 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $46,720 | 490 |
| Springfield, IL | $46,450 | 370 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $45,610 | 180 |
| Rockford, IL | $45,560 | 460 |
| Bloomington, IL | $45,500 | 280 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $45,240 | 280 |
| Kankakee, IL | $44,870 | 160 |
| Muncie, IN | $44,390 | 240 |
| Kokomo, IN | $42,920 | 150 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $37,750 | 130 |
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 Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $62,300 | $29.95 |
| Light Truck Driver | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $40,490 | $19.46 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $65,200 | $31.35 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $59,330 | $28.52 |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| Taxi Driver | $36,770 | $17.68 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,550 | $19.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,450 | $18.48 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $68,330 | $32.85 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,180 | $17.40 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $36,580 | $17.59 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $49,180 a year, or $23.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $62,600 a year. The top 25% earn $59,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,360 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $47,560 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 15,210 bus drivers, school are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.