Salaries › Transit Bus Driver › California
Transit Bus Driver Salary in California (2026)
$32.27 per hour · take-home ≈ $53,745/year ($4,479/month) for a single filer
California is among the top 5 highest-paying states for Transit Bus Drivers (4th of 51), with a median about 11% above the national average. Of the 24,380 Transit Bus Driver jobs BLS counts in California, the typical worker earns $67,130 a year — though pay ranges from $48,600 for newcomers to $90,810 at the top.
Transit Bus Driver pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $48,600 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $55,540 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $67,130 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $76,920 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $90,810 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 24,380 Transit Bus Driver jobs in California (occupation code 53-3052, “Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Transit Bus Driver salary of $67,130 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $53,745 — an effective tax rate of 19.9%.
| Gross (median) | $67,130 |
| Federal income tax | −$5,939 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$5,135 |
| California state income tax | −$2,311 |
| Take-home (annual) | $53,745 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,479 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Transit Bus Driver make in California?
- The median Transit Bus Driver salary in California is $67,130 per year ($32.27 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $55,540 and $76,920.
- What is the take-home pay for a Transit Bus Driver in California?
- On the median salary of $67,130, a single filer in California takes home about $53,745 per year ($4,479 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 19.9%.
- How many Transit Bus Driver jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 24,380 Transit Bus Driver jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Transit Bus Drivers
Other salaries in California
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 California 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 California.