Salary of Georgia Public School Bus Drivers
Many school bus drivers work part time, taking students to school in the morning and bringing them home after school during the months school is in session. Some drivers also take students and chaperons on field trips or to sporting and musical activities. Frequently their work totals less than 20 hours weekly. The average school bus driver in Georgia earns more than $10 per hour.
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Average Wages for School Bus Drivers in Georgia
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average school bus driver in Georgia earned $10.76 per hour as of 2009. If a driver works full-time all year, this comes to an annual average of $22,380. However, the hourly rate applies better to most drivers, since they usually work part time. The BLS included 15,940 school bus drivers in Georgia in its survey.
Comparison with Transit Drivers in Georgia
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According to the BLS, Georgia also had 3,490 drivers of transit and intercity buses in 2009. They earned an average hourly income of $14.28, or an annual income of $29,710. The transit and intercity bus drivers earned $3.52 per hour more than the school bus drivers in the same state.
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Georgia School Bus Driver Wages by City
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In 2009, school bus drivers in Atlanta averaged $8.55 per hour, while those in Savannah earned $8.04 per hour on average, according to the BLS. School bus drivers in the Augusta region averaged $10.22 per hour, and those in the Atlanta area averaged $11.39 per hour.
School Bus Driver Wages Nationally
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The national average hourly wage for school bus drivers in the 2009 BLS study came to $13.49, or $2.73 more than the average in Georgia. The lowest-earning 10 percent of bus drivers nationally earned less than $7.69 per hour, and the highest-earning 10 percent earned more than $19.72 hourly.
School Bus Drivers by Industry
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The wages of school bus drivers in the U.S. depend in part upon the particular industry employing them. Among industries with more than 10,000 drivers nationwide, the highest-paying industry in the 2009 report was local government, paying drivers an average of 14.56 per hour. The second highest-paying employer, school and employee bus transportation companies, paid an average of 14.12 per hour. Elementary and secondary schools employing their own drivers came third, with an average hourly wage of $14.12.
Georgia School Bus Driver Requirements
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Applicants for school bus driver positions in Georgia must be at least 18 with a clear driving and criminal record. Depending upon which type of bus they will drive, they must obtain a Commercial Driver's License of Class A, B or C plus a P or S endorsement. Alternately, they need a Class P instructional license, which will allow them to drive when accompanied by another licensed driver. They must also pass an interview and complete 12 hours of instruction plus examinations.
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References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Bus Drivers
- Bureau of Labor Statistics State Occupational Employnment and Wage Estimates: Georgia
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wages: Atlanta, GA
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wages: Savanna, GA
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wages: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wages: Altanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA
Resources
- Photo Credit school bus image by Lombok from Fotolia.com
