Bus Drivers, School Salary
In Georgia, bus drivers, schools earn $44,950 at the median, or about $21.61 an hour. The range runs from $21K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $48,917 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,434/month, about 46.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $45K get you in Georgia?
About bus drivers, schools
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What this looks like in Georgia
Bus drivers, school pay in Georgia tracks closely to the national median, $45K locally vs. $48K nationwide, a 6% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,434/month, which is 47.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level bus drivers, schools (10th percentile) start around $21K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Bus Drivers, School salary by metro in Georgia
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hinesville | $50K | +10% | 60 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $49K | +8% | 260 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $47K | +5% | 11,190 |
| Rome | $47K | +4% | N/A |
| Albany | $47K | +4% | N/A |
| Gainesville | $46K | +1% | N/A |
| Valdosta | $46K | +1% | 220 |
| Columbus | $45K | +0% | 510 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons | $39K | -13% | 190 |
| Macon-Bibb County | $39K | -14% | N/A |
| Warner Robins | $36K | -20% | 320 |
| Savannah | $28K | -37% | 370 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $21K | -53% | 460 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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Track bus drivers, school salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bus drivers, school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 47.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/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 Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bus drivers, schools typically earn — is $21K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,244/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 115% 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 Georgia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $45K locally vs. $48K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for bus drivers, schools?
Georgia pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bus drivers, schools make in Georgia?
The median is $44,950 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $20,740, and experienced bus drivers, schools can clear $62,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,012/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 47.6% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $48,917 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.