Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Salary
In Tennessee, bus drivers, transit and intercities earn $47,770 at the median, or about $22.97 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $53,208 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 35.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in Tennessee?
About bus drivers, transit and intercities
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for bus drivers, transit and intercity in Tennessee runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 36.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Tennessee
Entry-level bus drivers, transit and intercities (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary by metro in Tennessee
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $52K | +9% | 1,160 |
| Memphis | $48K | -0% | 290 |
| Clarksville | $46K | -3% | 70 |
| Chattanooga | $46K | -4% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track bus drivers, transit and intercity salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bus drivers, transit and intercity afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 36.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bus drivers, transit and intercities typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,372/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $48K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for bus drivers, transit and intercities?
Tennessee pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — below the national median.
How much do bus drivers, transit and intercities make in Tennessee?
The median is $47,770 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,530, and experienced bus drivers, transit and intercities can clear $58,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,368/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 36.1% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $53,208 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.