Salaries › Bus Driver › Illinois
Bus Driver Salary in Illinois (2026)
$23.60 per hour · take-home ≈ $39,194/year ($3,266/month) for a single filer
Bus Driver pay range in Illinois
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $38,310 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $46,470 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $49,090 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $59,110 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $62,560 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 21,230 Bus Driver jobs in Illinois (occupation code 53-3051, “Bus Drivers, School”).
Gross vs. take-home in Illinois
A median Bus Driver salary of $49,090 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Illinois state income tax, a single filer keeps about $39,194 — an effective tax rate of 20.2%.
| Gross (median) | $49,090 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,711 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,755 |
| Illinois state income tax | −$2,430 |
| Take-home (annual) | $39,194 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,266 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Illinois paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Bus Driver make in Illinois?
- The median Bus Driver salary in Illinois is $49,090 per year ($23.60 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $46,470 and $59,110.
- What is the take-home pay for a Bus Driver in Illinois?
- On the median salary of $49,090, a single filer in Illinois takes home about $39,194 per year ($3,266 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 20.2%.
- How many Bus Driver jobs are there in Illinois?
- BLS counts 21,230 Bus Driver jobs in Illinois in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Bus Drivers
Other salaries in Illinois
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Illinois state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Illinois.