Salaries › Bus Driver › Kentucky
Bus Driver Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$21.55 per hour · take-home ≈ $36,632/year ($3,053/month) for a single filer
Bus Driver pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $36,760 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $38,530 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $44,830 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $48,310 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $63,470 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 6,820 Bus Driver jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 53-3051, “Bus Drivers, School”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median Bus Driver salary of $44,830 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Kentucky state income tax, a single filer keeps about $36,632 — an effective tax rate of 18.3%.
| Gross (median) | $44,830 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,200 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,429 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$1,569 |
| Take-home (annual) | $36,632 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,053 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Bus Driver make in Kentucky?
- The median Bus Driver salary in Kentucky is $44,830 per year ($21.55 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $38,530 and $48,310.
- What is the take-home pay for a Bus Driver in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $44,830, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $36,632 per year ($3,053 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 18.3%.
- How many Bus Driver jobs are there in Kentucky?
- BLS counts 6,820 Bus Driver jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Bus Drivers
Other salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky.