Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Salary
In Ohio, bus drivers, transit and intercities earn $62,760 at the median, or about $30.17 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $68,628 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 28.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $63K get you in Ohio?
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 Ohio
Bus drivers, transit and intercity pay in Ohio tracks closely to the national median, $63K locally vs. $59K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,188/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Ohio
Entry-level bus drivers, transit and intercities (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary by metro in Ohio
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $74K | +18% | 700 |
| Akron | $70K | +12% | 360 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $67K | +7% | 270 |
| Cincinnati | $56K | -11% | 1,060 |
| Cleveland | $53K | -16% | 1,510 |
| Youngstown-Warren | $48K | -23% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track bus drivers, transit and intercity salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a bus drivers, transit and intercity afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 27.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for bus drivers, transit and intercities in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bus drivers, transit and intercities typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,440/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 Ohio?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $63K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for bus drivers, transit and intercities?
Ohio pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bus drivers, transit and intercities make in Ohio?
The median is $62,760 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,660, and experienced bus drivers, transit and intercities can clear $74,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,287/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 27.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a bus drivers, transit and intercity salary go in Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $68,628 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.