Bus Drivers, School Salary
In Tennessee, bus drivers, schools earn $44,510 at the median, or about $21.4 an hour. The range runs from $23K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $49,577 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 37.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $45K get you in Tennessee?
About bus drivers, schools
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Bus drivers, school pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $45K locally vs. $48K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 38.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Tennessee
Entry-level bus drivers, schools (10th percentile) start around $23K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Bus Drivers, School salary by metro in Tennessee
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $52K | +16% | 1,880 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $49K | +10% | 450 |
| Chattanooga | $42K | -5% | 870 |
| Jackson | $42K | -7% | 280 |
| Memphis | $38K | -15% | 1,150 |
| Knoxville | $31K | -30% | 730 |
| Clarksville | $27K | -40% | 410 |
Compare to other states
Track bus drivers, school salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bus drivers, school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 38.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bus drivers, schools typically earn — is $23K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,374/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 88% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $45K locally vs. $48K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for bus drivers, schools?
Tennessee pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bus drivers, schools make in Tennessee?
The median is $44,510 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $22,900, and experienced bus drivers, schools can clear $61,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,150/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 38.6% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $49,577 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.