Salaries › Transit Bus Driver › Rhode Island
Transit Bus Driver Salary in Rhode Island (2026)
$23.37 per hour · take-home ≈ $39,835/year ($3,320/month) for a single filer
Rhode Island ranks 34th of 51 states for Transit Bus Driver pay, with a median about 20% below the national average. Of the 70 Transit Bus Driver jobs BLS counts in Rhode Island, the typical worker earns $48,610 a year — though pay ranges from $44,550 for newcomers to $64,600 at the top.
Transit Bus Driver pay range in Rhode Island
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $44,550 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $45,810 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $48,610 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $57,980 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $64,600 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 70 Transit Bus Driver jobs in Rhode Island (occupation code 53-3052, “Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity”).
Gross vs. take-home in Rhode Island
A median Transit Bus Driver salary of $48,610 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Rhode Island state income tax, a single filer keeps about $39,835 — an effective tax rate of 18.1%.
| Gross (median) | $48,610 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,653 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,719 |
| Rhode Island state income tax | −$1,403 |
| Take-home (annual) | $39,835 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,320 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Rhode Island paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Transit Bus Driver make in Rhode Island?
- The median Transit Bus Driver salary in Rhode Island is $48,610 per year ($23.37 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $45,810 and $57,980.
- What is the take-home pay for a Transit Bus Driver in Rhode Island?
- On the median salary of $48,610, a single filer in Rhode Island takes home about $39,835 per year ($3,320 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 18.1%.
- How many Transit Bus Driver jobs are there in Rhode Island?
- BLS counts 70 Transit Bus Driver jobs in Rhode Island in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Transit Bus Drivers
Other salaries in Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island.