Bus Drivers, School salary in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
Bus Drivers, School in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn a median of $48,820 a year ($23.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 450 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,820 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $47,920. Pay here is 10% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $44,510. There are 3.8 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $47,500, close to the median.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,240 | $13.58 |
| 25th percentile | $46,340 | $22.28 |
| Median | $48,820 | $23.47 |
| 75th percentile | $50,850 | $24.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,820 | $30.20 |
| Average (mean) | $47,500 | $22.84 |
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 | $4,068.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,034.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,877.69 |
| Weekly | $938.85 |
| Hourly | $23.47 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $48,820 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $57,610 | 8,620 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $51,600 | 1,880 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $50,190 | 2,390 |
| Richmond, VA | $49,370 | 2,070 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $48,210 | 470 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $47,970 | 300 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $47,670 | 300 |
| Roanoke, VA | $46,380 | 550 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $46,260 | 350 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $45,950 | 220 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $45,700 | 190 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $42,460 | 870 |
| Jackson, TN | $41,590 | 280 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $37,920 | 1,150 |
| Knoxville, TN | $31,340 | 730 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $26,620 | 410 |
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 Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $54,700 | $26.30 |
| Light Truck Driver | $41,590 | $19.99 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $37,980 | $18.26 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $29,770 | $14.31 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $29,650 | $14.25 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,760 | $17.19 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $35,300 | $16.97 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $40,720 | $19.58 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,570 | $17.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $58,260 | $28.01 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $29,780 | $14.32 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $29,520 | $14.19 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $44,450 | $21.37 |
| Commercial Pilot | $114,350 | — |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
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 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area is $48,820 a year, or $23.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn at least $62,820 a year. The top 25% earn $50,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,240 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $46,340 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
About 450 bus drivers, school are employed in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.