Bus Drivers, School salary in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA
Bus Drivers, School in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area earn a median of $60,460 a year ($29.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 450 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,000 for the top 10%. That is 26% higher than the national median of $47,920. Pay here is 5% lower than the Washington statewide median of $63,370. There are 3.5 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $60,080, close to the median.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,610 | $23.85 |
| 25th percentile | $57,630 | $27.71 |
| Median | $60,460 | $29.07 |
| 75th percentile | $63,070 | $30.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $70,000 | $33.66 |
| Average (mean) | $60,080 | $28.89 |
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 | $5,038.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,519.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,325.38 |
| Weekly | $1,162.69 |
| Hourly | $29.07 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $60,460 salary, see how much house you can afford in Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $72,070 | 200 |
| Bellingham, WA | $69,640 | 300 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $66,880 | 330 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $66,380 | 4,070 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $62,190 | 2,850 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $61,730 | 210 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $56,640 | 170 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $53,750 | 450 |
| Yakima, WA | $52,480 | 550 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $51,840 | 70 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $50,040 | 610 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $45,750 | 80 |
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 Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $63,040 | $30.31 |
| Light Truck Driver | $45,820 | $22.03 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $38,260 | $18.40 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $45,960 | $22.10 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $44,070 | $21.19 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,760 | $21.52 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $48,520 | $23.33 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $71,950 | $34.59 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $39,920 | $19.19 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $38,990 | $18.75 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $76,340 | $36.70 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $36,850 | $17.72 |
| Parking Attendant | $36,080 | $17.35 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA
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 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area is $60,460 a year, or $29.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area earn at least $70,000 a year. The top 25% earn $63,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,610 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $57,630 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA?
About 450 bus drivers, school are employed in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.