Salaries › Transit Bus Driver › Kentucky
Transit Bus Driver Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$26.22 per hour · take-home ≈ $44,102/year ($3,675/month) for a single filer
Kentucky ranks 21st of 51 states for Transit Bus Driver pay, with a median about 10% below the national average. Of the 2,570 Transit Bus Driver jobs BLS counts in Kentucky, the typical worker earns $54,550 a year — though pay ranges from $32,020 for newcomers to $61,590 at the top.
Transit Bus Driver pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $32,020 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $38,310 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $54,550 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $61,100 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $61,590 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 2,570 Transit Bus Driver jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 53-3052, “Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median Transit Bus Driver salary of $54,550 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 $44,102 — an effective tax rate of 19.2%.
| Gross (median) | $54,550 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,366 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,173 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$1,909 |
| Take-home (annual) | $44,102 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,675 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Transit Bus Driver make in Kentucky?
- The median Transit Bus Driver salary in Kentucky is $54,550 per year ($26.22 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $38,310 and $61,100.
- What is the take-home pay for a Transit Bus Driver in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $54,550, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $44,102 per year ($3,675 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 19.2%.
- How many Transit Bus Driver jobs are there in Kentucky?
- BLS counts 2,570 Transit Bus Driver jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Transit 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.