Salaries › Transit Bus Driver › Illinois
Transit Bus Driver Salary in Illinois (2026)
$31.35 per hour · take-home ≈ $51,341/year ($4,278/month) for a single filer
Illinois ranks 8th of 51 states for Transit Bus Driver pay, with a median about 8% above the national average. Of the 8,650 Transit Bus Driver jobs BLS counts in Illinois, the typical worker earns $65,200 a year — though pay ranges from $47,270 for newcomers to $85,990 at the top.
Transit Bus Driver pay range in Illinois
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $47,270 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $57,430 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $65,200 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $85,990 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $85,990 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 8,650 Transit Bus Driver jobs in Illinois (occupation code 53-3052, “Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity”).
Gross vs. take-home in Illinois
A median Transit Bus Driver salary of $65,200 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 $51,341 — an effective tax rate of 21.3%.
| Gross (median) | $65,200 |
| Federal income tax | −$5,644 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,988 |
| Illinois state income tax | −$3,227 |
| Take-home (annual) | $51,341 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,278 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Illinois paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Transit Bus Driver make in Illinois?
- The median Transit Bus Driver salary in Illinois is $65,200 per year ($31.35 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $57,430 and $85,990.
- What is the take-home pay for a Transit Bus Driver in Illinois?
- On the median salary of $65,200, a single filer in Illinois takes home about $51,341 per year ($4,278 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 21.3%.
- How many Transit Bus Driver jobs are there in Illinois?
- BLS counts 8,650 Transit Bus Driver jobs in Illinois in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Transit 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.