Bus Drivers, School Salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
In Charleston-North Charleston, SC, bus drivers, schools earn $48,690 at the median — $23.41 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.96), that's roughly $48,227 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,787/month — about 53.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $49K get you in Charleston-North Charleston?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Charleston-North Charleston’s Regional Price Parity (100.96). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Entry-level bus drivers, schools (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Bus Drivers, School pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $63K | +34% | 10,240 |
| Washington | $60K | +28% | 9,420 |
| Connecticut | $59K | +26% | 6,980 |
| New Jersey | $59K | +26% | 12,200 |
| California | $58K | +24% | 14,580 |
| New York | $57K | +20% | 37,520 |
| District of Columbia | $54K | +16% | 530 |
| Oregon | $52K | +11% | 4,460 |
| Utah | $51K | +9% | 1,430 |
| Hawaii | $51K | +9% | 530 |
| Maryland | $51K | +9% | 8,320 |
| North Dakota | $50K | +7% | 1,580 |
| Alaska | $50K | +6% | 660 |
| Vermont | $50K | +6% | 1,020 |
| Illinois | $50K | +6% | 20,060 |
| Minnesota | $50K | +5% | 10,860 |
| Rhode Island | $49K | +5% | 2,040 |
| Virginia | $49K | +3% | 13,530 |
| New Hampshire | $48K | +1% | 2,260 |
| Wisconsin | $47K | +1% | 9,000 |
| Maine | $47K | +1% | 1,690 |
| Nebraska | $47K | +1% | 2,240 |
| Indiana | $47K | +0% | 10,700 |
| Ohio | $47K | -0% | 5,450 |
| New Mexico | $46K | -2% | 1,910 |
| Wyoming | $46K | -2% | 1,210 |
| Montana | $46K | -3% | 1,580 |
| Pennsylvania | $46K | -3% | 23,580 |
| Michigan | $46K | -3% | 8,960 |
| Iowa | $45K | -4% | 5,140 |
| Kansas | $45K | -5% | 4,910 |
| Delaware | $44K | -6% | 1,260 |
| Arizona | $44K | -7% | 4,710 |
| Missouri | $44K | -7% | 8,680 |
| Texas | $43K | -9% | 34,320 |
| South Carolina | $42K | -10% | 5,930 |
| Idaho | $42K | -11% | 2,010 |
| Arkansas | $42K | -11% | 4,530 |
| Tennessee | $41K | -13% | 7,660 |
| Kentucky | $41K | -14% | 7,160 |
| Florida | $39K | -17% | 12,730 |
| South Dakota | $39K | -18% | 1,290 |
| Georgia | $38K | -20% | 16,350 |
| Oklahoma | $37K | -20% | 3,520 |
| North Carolina | $37K | -22% | 11,960 |
| Nevada | $36K | -23% | 2,390 |
| Louisiana | $32K | -32% | 6,240 |
| West Virginia | $30K | -36% | 3,330 |
| Mississippi | $29K | -38% | 3,880 |
| Alabama | $18K | -63% | 11,670 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track bus drivers, school salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do bus drivers, schools make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median is $48,690 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,310, and experienced bus drivers, schools can clear $59,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Charleston-North Charleston?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,306/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,787/month, which eats 54.1% 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 Charleston-North Charleston?
Charleston-North Charleston has a Regional Price Parity of 100.96 (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 $48,227 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.