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Georgia school bus driver pay & requirements
About 16,880 school bus drivers work in Georgia. The middle (median) driver earns $21.61/hr ($44,950/yr), according to the BLS.
Pay range statewide (BLS, May 2025)
| Bottom 10% | 25% | Median | 75% | Top 10% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $9.97 | $13.26 | $21.61 | $24.28 | $29.84 |
| Yearly | $20,740 | $27,570 | $44,950 | $50,490 | $62,060 |
Compare by county
Cobb County, GA2 employersDeKalb County, GA2 employersCherokee County, GA1 employerClayton County, GA1 employerForsyth County, GA1 employerFulton County, GA1 employerGwinnett County, GA1 employerHenry County, GA1 employerWhitfield County, GA1 employer
Employers in Georgia
| Employer | Start $/hr | Top $/hr | Sign-on bonus | Paid CDL training | Guaranteed hours | Summer pay | Pay year / notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gwinnett County Public Schools Gwinnett County, GA · Gwinnett County · District |
$22.44 | $31.00 | not stated | Yes | Guaranteed hours (amount not stated); most work 6–8 hrs/day Mid-day break ~9:30–1:30 | Summers off (pay over summer not stated) | 2026-27 "100% Fully Paid" CDL training at full pay; no Social Security deduction (5% more take-home). Top shown as "$31+". | GCPS bus driver page checked 2026-10-30 |
| Cobb County School District Cobb County (Marietta), GA · Cobb County · District |
$28.69 | $38.24 | not stated | Yes | not stated ~6 hrs/day split shift; 177 days | Yes — 15% of each check held back and paid over summer | 2026-27 | 2026-27 transportation salary schedule Become a School Bus Driver page checked 2026-10-30 |
| Fulton County Schools Fulton County, GA · Fulton County · District |
$24.13 | not stated | not stated | Yes | not stated 6 hrs/day = full time with benefits | not stated | 2026-27 Up to $27.80/hr to start with verified passenger-driving experience. | Become an FCS Bus Driver page checked 2026-10-30 |
| DeKalb County School District DeKalb County, GA · DeKalb County · District |
$21.68 | $31.02 | not stated | not stated | not stated 180 days × 6 hrs/day | not stated | 2026-27 | 2026-27 bus driver salary schedule checked 2026-10-30 |
| Forsyth County Schools Forsyth County (Cumming), GA · Forsyth County · District |
$21.02 | $34.37 | not stated | not stated | not stated | not stated | 2026-27 | 2026-27 transportation salary schedule checked 2026-10-30 |
| Cherokee County School District Cherokee County (Canton), GA · Cherokee County · District |
$24.69 | not stated | not stated | Yes | not stated 180-day calendar | not stated | 2026-27 | Join the Transportation Team page checked 2026-10-30 |
| Clayton County Public Schools Clayton County (Jonesboro), GA · Clayton County · District |
$25.21 | not stated | not stated | not stated | not stated 6-hr workday | not stated | 2026-27 | Recruitment page checked 2026-10-30 |
| Henry County Schools Henry County (McDonough), GA · Henry County · District |
$21.89 | $25.80 | not stated | not stated | not stated | not stated | 2026-27 | 2026-27 salary schedule checked 2026-10-30 |
| First Student — Dalton Dalton (Whitfield County), GA · Whitfield County · Contractor |
$21.85 | $25.20 | $500 permit (CLP) bonus within 7 days; $200 within 14 | Yes | 5 hrs/day | not stated | 2026 Permit bonus offer ends 12/31/26. | First Student posting JR14224 checked 2026-10-30 |
| Marietta City Schools Cobb County (City of Marietta), GA · Cobb County · District |
$29.09 | $41.80 | not stated | not stated | not stated | not stated | 2026-27 City school system inside Cobb County. Substitute driver rate also $29.09. | FY27 transportation salary schedule checked 2026-10-30 |
| City Schools of Decatur DeKalb County (City of Decatur), GA · DeKalb County · District |
$26.29 | $36.73 | not stated | not stated | not stated 185 days × 6 hrs | not stated | 2026-27 City school system inside DeKalb County. | FY2026-27 bus driver salary schedule checked 2026-10-30 |
Pay by metro area (BLS)
| Area | Drivers | Median $/hr | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, GA | not stated | $22.42 | $7.85 | $22.42 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | 260 | $23.38 | $11.21 | $30.59 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 11190 | $22.75 | $10.75 | $29.84 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 460 | $10.20 | $7.93 | $17.82 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | 190 | $18.91 | $8.07 | $24.08 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 870 | $20.42 | $11.83 | $23.88 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 510 | $21.61 | $8.14 | $22.18 |
| Gainesville, GA | not stated | $21.92 | $8.36 | $27.01 |
| Hinesville, GA | 60 | $23.84 | $17.31 | $23.84 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | not stated | $18.56 | $7.98 | $24.64 |
| Rome, GA | not stated | $22.55 | $7.99 | $26.22 |
| Savannah, GA | 370 | $13.55 | $11.11 | $22.10 |
| Valdosta, GA | 220 | $21.89 | $8.85 | $47.65 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 320 | $17.24 | $10.57 | $24.29 |
| North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 880 | $18.53 | $8.01 | $23.75 |
| Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 650 | $18.24 | $8.07 | $22.94 |
| East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 290 | $15.72 | $8.00 | $22.77 |
| South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 660 | $13.55 | $7.52 | $23.26 |
How to become a school bus driver in Georgia
- You need a Georgia CDL (Class A, B or C) with the S endorsement (P is also required by most districts), and you must pass the S knowledge test and the school bus skills test.
- Before driving students, new drivers complete a GaDOE-approved pre-service program of at least 24 hours (the state manual splits it into 12 classroom hours, 6 behind-the-wheel without students and 6 with students).
- First-time S or P applicants must also complete federal ELDT before the skills test.
Federal rules that apply in every state
- Since Feb 7, 2022, anyone getting a P (passenger) or S (school bus) endorsement for the first time must finish Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) from a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry before the skills test.
- ELDT has two parts: online/classroom theory (80% passing score on the assessment) and behind-the-wheel training. S-endorsement training must use a representative school bus.
- There is no federal minimum number of hours; the provider certifies you are proficient.
- Use FMCSA's Find a Provider search, filtered to your state and "School Bus," to find a registered trainer.
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