Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Salary
In South Dakota, bus drivers, transit and intercities earn $41,590 at the median, or about $19.99 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $46,268 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,017/month, about 34% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $42K get you in South Dakota?
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 South Dakota
Pay for bus drivers, transit and intercity in South Dakota runs about 30% below the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, South Dakota
Entry-level bus drivers, transit and intercities (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary by metro in South Dakota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $45K | +9% | 130 |
Compare to other states
Track bus drivers, transit and intercity salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a bus drivers, transit and intercity afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $42K, rent takes 34.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/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 South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bus drivers, transit and intercities typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,780/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 South Dakota?
Local pay runs 30% below the national median — $42K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for bus drivers, transit and intercities?
South Dakota pays $42K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -30%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $46K — below the national median.
How much do bus drivers, transit and intercities make in South Dakota?
The median is $41,590 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,670, and experienced bus drivers, transit and intercities can clear $48,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,955/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 34.4% 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $46,268 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.