Bus Drivers, School Salary
In Alaska, bus drivers, schools earn $54,200 at the median, or about $26.06 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.31), that's roughly $51,961 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,643/month, about 43.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alaska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $54K get you in Alaska?
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What this looks like in Alaska
Alaska sits well above the national pay line for bus drivers, school, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $48K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,643/month, which is 43.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 104.31) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alaska
Entry-level bus drivers, schools (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Bus Drivers, School salary by metro in Alaska
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $53K | -2% | 440 |
Compare to other states
Track bus drivers, school salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bus drivers, school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alaska?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 43.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,643/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for bus drivers, schools in Alaska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bus drivers, schools typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,188/month. At HUD’s $1,643/month FMR, rent would take 75% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is bus drivers, school a high-paying job in Alaska?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $54K here vs. $48K nationally.
How does Alaska compare to the national average for bus drivers, schools?
Alaska pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.31), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bus drivers, schools make in Alaska?
The median is $54,200 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,470, and experienced bus drivers, schools can clear $59,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Alaska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,799/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,643/month, which eats 43.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a bus drivers, school salary go in Alaska?
Alaska has a Regional Price Parity of 104.31 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median bus drivers, school salary is worth about $51,961 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do bus drivers, schools get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.