Bus driver
Also known as: schoolbus driver, coach driver, private coach driver, passenger driver, public bus operator, bus driving operator
About this occupation
Bus drivers operate buses or coaches, take fares, and look after passengers.
Essential skills and knowledge
- read maps
- operate GPS systems
- use different communication channels
- provide information to passengers
- communicate clearly with passengers
- tend to passenger belongings
- clean road vehicles
- ensure vehicles are equipped with accessibility equipment
- perform defensive driving
- manoeuvre bus
- use communication devices
- ensure vehicle operability
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Bus Drivers, School (O*NET 53-3051.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Comply with traffic regulations to operate vehicles in a safe and courteous manner.
- Follow safety rules as students board and exit buses or cross streets near bus stops.
- Check the condition of a vehicle's tires, brakes, windshield wipers, lights, oil, fuel, water, and safety equipment to ensure that everything is in working order.
- Report any bus malfunctions or needed repairs.
- Pick up and drop off students at regularly scheduled neighborhood locations, following strict time schedules.
- Escort small children across roads and highways.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Social
Top skills: Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Operations Monitoring
US median pay: US$47,920 a year (2025), 402,930 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.7)
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalImportant (3.2)
- Government and PoliticsO*NET: Law and GovernmentImportant (3.1)
- GeographyO*NET: GeographyImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- School Bus Monitors
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
- Taxi Drivers
- Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs
- Subway and Streetcar Operators
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
- Light Truck Drivers
- Crossing Guards and Flaggers
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.