Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Salary
In Kentucky, bus drivers, transit and intercities earn $54,550 at the median, or about $26.22 an hour. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $60,457 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,110/month, about 31% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $55K get you in Kentucky?
About bus drivers, transit and intercities
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Bus drivers, transit and intercity pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $55K locally vs. $59K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Kentucky
Entry-level bus drivers, transit and intercities (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary by metro in Kentucky
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $61K | +12% | 1,130 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $55K | +0% | 250 |
| Bowling Green | $38K | -30% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track bus drivers, transit and intercity salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bus drivers, transit and intercity afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 30.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bus drivers, transit and intercities typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,921/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 58% 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 Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $55K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for bus drivers, transit and intercities?
Kentucky pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bus drivers, transit and intercities make in Kentucky?
The median is $54,550 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,020, and experienced bus drivers, transit and intercities can clear $61,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,641/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 30.5% 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $60,457 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.