Bus Drivers, School salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Bus Drivers, School in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $59,100 a year ($28.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,640 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $47,920. Pay here is 3% lower than the California statewide median of $61,040. There are 1.5 bus drivers, school per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.56). The average (mean) salary is $57,230, close to the median.
Pay range for bus drivers, school in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| 25th percentile | $52,900 | $25.43 |
| Median | $59,100 | $28.41 |
| 75th percentile | $59,110 | $28.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,640 | $30.60 |
| Average (mean) | $57,230 | $27.51 |
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 | $4,925 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,462.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,273.08 |
| Weekly | $1,136.54 |
| Hourly | $28.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $59,100 salary, see how much house you can afford in California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $75,230 | 610 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $73,680 | 2,350 |
| Napa, CA | $67,430 | 70 |
| Modesto, CA | $62,870 | 190 |
| El Centro, CA | $62,610 | 60 |
| Salinas, CA | $62,390 | 140 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $61,900 | 2,980 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $61,720 | 380 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $61,580 | 4,090 |
| Merced, CA | $61,580 | 300 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $61,570 | 260 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $60,600 | 60 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $60,440 | 1,160 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $60,420 | 350 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $60,390 | 600 |
| Visalia, CA | $59,490 | 270 |
| Chico, CA | $58,080 | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $57,050 | 190 |
| Vallejo, CA | $54,030 | 140 |
| Fresno, CA | $52,650 | 750 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $51,880 | 470 |
| Yuba City, CA | $48,010 | 70 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,500 | $28.60 |
| Light Truck Driver | $48,740 | $23.43 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $57,780 | $27.78 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $39,210 | $18.85 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,710 | $18.61 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,050 | $21.18 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,510 | $17.56 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,530 | $22.37 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| Parking Attendant | $37,770 | $18.16 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $35,960 | $17.29 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for bus drivers, school in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $59,100 a year, or $28.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,640 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, school make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of bus drivers, school in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $63,640 a year. The top 25% earn $59,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, school in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,400 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, school earn $52,900 or less.
How many bus drivers, school work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 140 bus drivers, school are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.