Last updated · Sources: District Five job board, BLS OEWS May 2025
Lexington-Richland School District Five school bus driver pay
Lexington-Richland School District Five pays school bus drivers $18.22–$28.19/hr for 2026-27 (source: District Five job board; updated Oct 30, 2026).
Lexington & Richland Counties (Irmo/Chapin), South Carolina. Everything below comes from the linked source, checked 2026-10-30. A blank means the source doesn't say.
Starting pay
2026-27
Top of scale
Sign-on bonus
Paid CDL training
Details
| Employer type | District |
|---|---|
| Area | Lexington & Richland Counties (Irmo/Chapin) |
| Pay year | 2026-27 |
| Guaranteed hours | not stated |
| Hours / days | 180 days |
| Summer pay | not stated |
| Training payback | not stated |
| Notes | Spans Lexington and Richland counties. "Training Provided." |
Sources
- District Five job board · checked 2026-10-30
How it compares
The starting rate is $0.96 below the South Carolina median for school bus drivers ($19.18/hr, BLS OEWS May 2025) and $0.45 above the Columbia, SC metro median ($17.77/hr). The BLS median covers drivers at every experience level, so a new driver's rate is often below it.
| Lexington County employer | Start $/hr | Top $/hr | Sign-on bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richland School District Two | $21.02 | $31.47 | $1,500 sign-on |
| Lexington County School District One | $20.47 | not stated | not stated |
| Lexington School District Two | $19.83 | $32.81 | not stated |
| Lexington School District Four | $19.17 | $30.30 | not stated |
| Lexington-Richland School District Five (this page) | $18.22 | $28.19 | not stated |
| Lexington County School District Three | $16.33 | $27.76 | not stated |
| Richland School District One | not published | not published | Up to $2,000 sign-on |
Lexington County comparison · Richland County comparison · South Carolina school bus driver pay by district · Paid CDL training list · Split-shift calculator
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Lexington-Richland School District Five pay school bus drivers?
Starting pay is $18.22/hr and the schedule tops out at $28.19/hr (2026-27), per District Five job board. 180 days.
Does Lexington-Richland School District Five offer paid CDL training?
Yes, according to the source linked on this page.
How does Lexington-Richland School District Five compare with nearby districts?
It ranks #5 of 6 for starting pay among the employers we list in Lexington County (the highest is Richland School District Two at $21.02/hr). Pay years differ, so check each source.
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