Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $57,780 a year ($27.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 370 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,340 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $59,050. Pay here is 14% lower than the California statewide median of $67,130. There are 3.8 bus drivers, transit and intercity per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $63,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bus drivers, transit and intercity in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,490 | $23.79 |
| 25th percentile | $57,780 | $27.78 |
| Median | $57,780 | $27.78 |
| 75th percentile | $76,040 | $36.56 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,340 | $39.11 |
| Average (mean) | $63,730 | $30.64 |
Half of bus drivers, transit and intercity 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 | $4,815 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,407.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,222.31 |
| Weekly | $1,111.15 |
| Hourly | $27.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $57,780 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, Transit and Intercity salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $78,900 | 5,540 |
| Salinas, CA | $71,290 | 180 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $70,680 | 810 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $68,020 | 10,140 |
| Fresno, CA | $62,170 | n/a |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $61,290 | 1,720 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $60,320 | 180 |
| Napa, CA | $59,560 | 170 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $56,940 | 1,550 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $54,140 | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $53,560 | 190 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $49,000 | 330 |
Highest-paying states for bus drivers, transit and intercity
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $84,480 |
| Washington | $72,280 |
| Hawaii | $68,500 |
| California | $67,130 |
| Oregon | $65,510 |
| Massachusetts | $65,460 |
| Maryland | $65,220 |
| Illinois | $65,200 |
| Alaska | $64,150 |
| Colorado | $63,010 |
See Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity 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 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $39,210 | $18.85 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $59,100 | $28.41 |
| 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 53-3052. 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, transit and intercity make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for bus drivers, transit and intercity in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $57,780 a year, or $27.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,340 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus drivers, transit and intercity make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of bus drivers, transit and intercity in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $81,340 a year. The top 25% earn $76,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus drivers, transit and intercity in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,490 a year, and a quarter of bus drivers, transit and intercity earn $57,780 or less.
How many bus drivers, transit and intercity work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 370 bus drivers, transit and intercity are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.