School Bus Driver Salary in Chicago, IL
Updated
The median school bus driver in the Chicago area earns $49,180 a year ($23.64 an hour), 3% above the U.S. median ($47,920) and about the same as the Illinois median ($49,090). Half of the 15,210 school bus drivers there earn between $47,560 and $59,930.
| Annual pay | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,360 | $38,310 | $29,240 |
| 25th percentile | $47,560 | $46,470 | $38,650 |
| Median | $49,180 | $49,090 | $47,920 |
| 75th percentile | $59,930 | $59,110 | $58,430 |
| 90th percentile | $62,600 | $62,560 | $65,730 |
| Average | $52,260 | $51,410 | $48,430 |
| Jobs | 15,210 | 21,230 | 402,930 |
Chicago, IL ranks 25th of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for school bus driver pay. Highest: San Jose, CA ($75,230).
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Check my paySchool bus driver pay in other cities
- San Jose, CA: $75,230
- San Francisco, CA: $73,680
- Seattle, WA: $66,380
- Boston, MA: $65,170
- Portland, OR: $62,190
- Riverside, CA: $61,900
- Los Angeles, CA: $61,580
- Hartford, CT: $61,560
- All cities
Similar jobs in Chicago, IL
- Truck Driver: $62,300
- Delivery Driver: $47,950
- Material Mover: $40,550
- Stocker: $38,450
- Forklift Operator: $47,950
- All jobs in Chicago, IL
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, published May 15, 2026
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.