Bus Drivers, School Salary
In Arkansas, bus drivers, schools earn $45,500 at the median, or about $21.87 an hour. The range runs from $24K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $51,917 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 32.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $46K get you in Arkansas?
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Bus drivers, school pay in Arkansas tracks closely to the national median, $46K locally vs. $48K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,021/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level bus drivers, schools (10th percentile) start around $24K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Bus Drivers, School salary by metro in Arkansas
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $47K | +4% | 590 |
| Jonesboro | $47K | +3% | 210 |
| Hot Springs | $46K | +1% | 80 |
| Fort Smith | $41K | -11% | 260 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $40K | -12% | 990 |
Compare to other states
Track bus drivers, school salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bus drivers, school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 33.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bus drivers, schools typically earn — is $24K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,445/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 71% 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 Arkansas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $46K locally vs. $48K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for bus drivers, schools?
Arkansas pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bus drivers, schools make in Arkansas?
The median is $45,500 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $24,080, and experienced bus drivers, schools can clear $63,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,083/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 33.1% 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 Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median bus drivers, school salary is worth about $51,917 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.