Bus Drivers, School Salary
In North Dakota, bus drivers, schools earn $50,790 at the median, or about $24.42 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $57,138 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,034/month, about 30.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $51K get you in North Dakota?
About bus drivers, schools
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What this looks like in North Dakota
Bus drivers, school pay in North Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $51K locally vs. $48K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,034/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, North Dakota
Entry-level bus drivers, schools (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Bus Drivers, School salary by metro in North Dakota
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minot | $56K | +10% | 140 |
| Grand Forks | $53K | +5% | 80 |
| Bismarck | $48K | -6% | 170 |
| Fargo | $47K | -8% | 470 |
Compare to other states
Track bus drivers, school salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bus drivers, school afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 29.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for bus drivers, schools in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bus drivers, schools typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,627/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 North Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $51K locally vs. $48K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for bus drivers, schools?
North Dakota pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bus drivers, schools make in North Dakota?
The median is $50,790 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,780, and experienced bus drivers, schools can clear $81,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,488/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 29.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a bus drivers, school salary go in North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $57,138 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.