Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Salary
In Rhode Island, bus drivers, transit and intercities earn $48,610 at the median, or about $23.37 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.77), that's roughly $47,765 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,544/month, about 46% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Rhode Island. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in Rhode Island?
About bus drivers, transit and intercities
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What this looks like in Rhode Island
Pay for bus drivers, transit and intercity in Rhode Island runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,544/month, which is 46.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 101.77) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. 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, Rhode Island
Entry-level bus drivers, transit and intercities (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary by metro in Rhode Island
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick | $58K | +19% | 280 |
Compare to other states
Track bus drivers, transit and intercity salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rhode Island numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bus drivers, transit and intercity afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rhode Island?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 46.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,544/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Rhode Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bus drivers, transit and intercities typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,673/month. At HUD’s $1,544/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 Rhode Island?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $49K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national average for bus drivers, transit and intercities?
Rhode Island pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — below the national median.
How much do bus drivers, transit and intercities make in Rhode Island?
The median is $48,610 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,550, and experienced bus drivers, transit and intercities can clear $64,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Rhode Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,304/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,544/month, which eats 46.7% 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 Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a Regional Price Parity of 101.77 (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 $47,765 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.