Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Salary
In West Virginia, bus drivers, transit and intercities earn $39,260 at the median, or about $18.87 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $44,097 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,008/month, about 37.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $39K get you in West Virginia?
About bus drivers, transit and intercities
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Pay for bus drivers, transit and intercity in West Virginia runs about 34% below the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,008/month, which is 37.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, West Virginia
Entry-level bus drivers, transit and intercities (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary by metro in West Virginia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington-Ashland | $49K | +26% | 60 |
Compare to other states
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bus drivers, transit and intercity afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 37.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bus drivers, transit and intercities typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,843/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 55% 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 West Virginia?
Local pay runs 34% below the national median — $39K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for bus drivers, transit and intercities?
West Virginia pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — below the national median.
How much do bus drivers, transit and intercities make in West Virginia?
The median is $39,260 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,710, and experienced bus drivers, transit and intercities can clear $49,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,698/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 37.4% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $44,097 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.