School bus pay leaderboard

Ranked from 32 employers we've checked. Updated as new salary schedules come out.

Highest starting pay

  1. $29.09/hr — Marietta City Schools (GA, 2026-27) source
  2. $28.69/hr — Cobb County School District (GA, 2026-27) source
  3. $26.29/hr — City Schools of Decatur (GA, 2026-27) source
  4. $25.21/hr — Clayton County Public Schools (GA, 2026-27) source
  5. $24.69/hr — Cherokee County School District (GA, 2026-27) source
  6. $24.13/hr — Fulton County Schools (GA, 2026-27) source
  7. $23.41/hr — Greenville County Schools (SC, 2026-27) source
  8. $23.00/hr — Charleston County School District (SC, 2026-27) source
  9. $22.75/hr — First Student — Charleston area (N. Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Johns Island) (SC, 2026) source
  10. $22.70/hr — Fort Mill School District 4 (SC, 2026-27) source

Highest top-of-scale pay

  1. $41.80/hr — Marietta City Schools (GA, 2026-27) source
  2. $39.60/hr — Fort Mill School District 4 (SC, 2026-27) source
  3. $38.24/hr — Cobb County School District (GA, 2026-27) source
  4. $36.73/hr — City Schools of Decatur (GA, 2026-27) source
  5. $34.73/hr — Charleston County School District (SC, 2026-27) source
  6. $34.37/hr — Forsyth County Schools (GA, 2026-27) source
  7. $33.08/hr — First Student — Charleston area (N. Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Johns Island) (SC, 2026) source
  8. $32.85/hr — Rock Hill Schools (SC, 2025-26) source
  9. $32.80/hr — Clover School District (SC, 2022-23 (latest posted)) source
  10. $32.46/hr — York School District One (SC, 2025-26) source

Biggest sign-on bonuses

  1. $1,500 sign-on — Richland School District Two (SC, 2026-27) source
  2. $1,200 sign-on + up to $4,000/yr attendance & retention bonuses — Wake County Public Schools (NC, 2026-27) source
  3. $500 permit (CLP) bonus within 7 days; $200 within 14 — First Student — Charleston area (N. Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Johns Island) (SC, 2026) source
  4. $500 permit (CLP) bonus within 7 days; $200 within 14 — First Student — Dalton (GA, 2026) source

Lowest starting pay

  1. $16.38/hr — Guilford County Schools (NC, 2026-27) source
  2. $18.00/hr — Clover School District (SC, 2022-23 (latest posted)) source
  3. $18.22/hr — Lexington-Richland School District Five (SC, 2026-27) source
  4. $18.79/hr — Spartanburg School District One (SC, 2026) source
  5. $18.86/hr — Spartanburg County School District Two (SC, 2026-27) source

Starting pay is the base rate for a new driver. Some employers start experienced drivers higher.

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