Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Salary
In Iowa, bus drivers, transit and intercities earn $45,890 at the median, or about $22.06 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $51,643 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 34% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $46K get you in Iowa?
About bus drivers, transit and intercities
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for bus drivers, transit and intercity in Iowa runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Iowa
Entry-level bus drivers, transit and intercities (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary by metro in Iowa
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $59K | +28% | 290 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $58K | +25% | 70 |
| Cedar Rapids | $53K | +15% | 130 |
| Iowa City | $50K | +8% | 160 |
| Sioux City | $44K | -5% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track bus drivers, transit and intercity salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bus drivers, transit and intercity afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 34.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/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, transit and intercities in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bus drivers, transit and intercities typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,131/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is bus drivers, transit and intercity a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $46K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for bus drivers, transit and intercities?
Iowa pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — below the national median.
How much do bus drivers, transit and intercities make in Iowa?
The median is $45,890 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,520, and experienced bus drivers, transit and intercities can clear $60,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,060/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 34.8% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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, transit and intercity salary is worth about $51,643 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.