Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
In Charleston-North Charleston, SC, bus drivers, transit and intercities earn $38,580 at the median — $18.55 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.96), that's roughly $38,213 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,787/month — about 67.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $39K 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, transit and intercities (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $82K | +43% | 16,550 |
| Washington | $70K | +22% | 7,100 |
| Illinois | $70K | +22% | 7,580 |
| Maryland | $69K | +21% | 4,680 |
| Hawaii | $69K | +20% | 2,130 |
| Oregon | $63K | +10% | 2,730 |
| Massachusetts | $63K | +9% | 3,850 |
| California | $62K | +9% | 23,500 |
| Alaska | $62K | +8% | 190 |
| New Jersey | $62K | +8% | 5,850 |
| Connecticut | $57K | -1% | 2,130 |
| Ohio | $54K | -5% | 3,730 |
| Missouri | $54K | -6% | 1,460 |
| New Hampshire | $54K | -6% | 260 |
| Maine | $53K | -7% | 320 |
| Delaware | $53K | -8% | 420 |
| Vermont | $53K | -9% | 410 |
| Minnesota | $52K | -9% | 2,370 |
| Virginia | $51K | -11% | 4,040 |
| Wisconsin | $51K | -11% | 2,280 |
| District of Columbia | $50K | -12% | 120 |
| Indiana | $50K | -12% | 1,710 |
| Kentucky | $50K | -12% | 2,410 |
| Rhode Island | $50K | -13% | 90 |
| Utah | $50K | -14% | 1,120 |
| Texas | $49K | -15% | 9,510 |
| Arizona | $49K | -15% | 2,850 |
| Tennessee | $48K | -16% | 2,100 |
| Pennsylvania | $48K | -16% | 4,300 |
| Louisiana | $48K | -16% | 1,270 |
| Montana | $47K | -19% | 550 |
| Florida | $47K | -19% | 7,620 |
| Michigan | $47K | -19% | 3,080 |
| Georgia | $46K | -20% | 3,180 |
| West Virginia | $45K | -21% | 580 |
| Kansas | $44K | -23% | 410 |
| Wyoming | $44K | -24% | 160 |
| Oklahoma | $44K | -24% | 1,330 |
| Idaho | $43K | -24% | 340 |
| New Mexico | $43K | -24% | 680 |
| Nebraska | $43K | -25% | 550 |
| Nevada | $43K | -25% | 2,520 |
| North Carolina | $42K | -27% | 2,460 |
| South Dakota | $40K | -30% | 310 |
| Iowa | $40K | -30% | 1,970 |
| North Dakota | $39K | -32% | 240 |
| South Carolina | $39K | -33% | 720 |
| Mississippi | $38K | -35% | 340 |
| Alabama | $37K | -35% | 1,020 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -36% | 570 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
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Frequently asked questions
How much do bus drivers, transit and intercities make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median is $38,580 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,700, and experienced bus drivers, transit and intercities can clear $50,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Charleston-North Charleston?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,683/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,787/month, which eats 66.6% 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, transit and intercity 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, transit and intercity salary is worth about $38,213 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do bus drivers, transit and intercities 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.