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Boston Career Explorer

Transportation and Material Moving

Bus Drivers, School

Drive a school bus to transport students. Ensure adherence to safety rules. May assist students in boarding or exiting.

Also called: Bus Drive Coordinator, Bus Driver Route Coordinator, CDL Bus Driver (Commercial Driver's License Bus Driver), Public School Bus Driver, School Bus Driver, School Van Driver

Median pay in Greater Boston
$65,170
$31.33/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
6,470
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+7.3%
1,710 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
plus Short-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$44,580$57,520$65,170$70,880$72,480

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • 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.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Lower exposure33 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 38
  • Language-model AIOE 26
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 35

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

School bus driving has lower AI exposure, and observed AI use is little or none. AI tools may help with scheduling and route planning. Driving, watching students board and exit safely, and checking the bus are done by people.

Likely to change

  • Planning routes and pickup schedules
  • Logging bus repair needs

Still relies on people

  • Keeping students safe at stops
  • Driving in traffic and checking the bus

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity

    Safe driving on a fixed schedule carries over, and this job has a Boston median of $70,120 with 9.3% growth.

    Pay difference
    +$4,950 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +9.3%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

    Your daily bus checks of brakes and tires carry over to repair work with a Boston median of $75,770.

    Pay difference
    +$10,600 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +5.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

    Safety rules and hazard awareness carry over to running construction equipment, which has a Boston median of $76,940.

    Pay difference
    +$11,770 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +6.3%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

1 program near Boston

Related occupations

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