Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Salary
In New Mexico, bus drivers, transit and intercities earn $45,610 at the median, or about $21.93 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $49,011 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 36% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $46K get you in New Mexico?
About bus drivers, transit and intercities
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in New Mexico
Pay for bus drivers, transit and intercity in New Mexico runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,119/month, which is 35.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for bus drivers, transit and intercitys.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level bus drivers, transit and intercities (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary by metro in New Mexico
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | $47K | +3% | 90 |
| Albuquerque | $47K | +2% | 200 |
| Las Cruces | $46K | +2% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track bus drivers, transit and intercity salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a bus drivers, transit and intercity afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 35.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/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 New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bus drivers, transit and intercities typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,128/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 New Mexico?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $46K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for bus drivers, transit and intercities?
New Mexico pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — below the national median.
How much do bus drivers, transit and intercities make in New Mexico?
The median is $45,610 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,460, and experienced bus drivers, transit and intercities can clear $48,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,121/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 35.9% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $49,011 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.