School districts continue to look for ways to bring more drivers into student transportation, and higher wages are becoming a bigger part of that effort.

School bus driver employment remained 9.5% below 2019 levels as of August 2025, according to an Economic Policy Institute analysis of federal survey data. At the same time, employment increased modestly from the previous year as inflation-adjusted hourly wages rose 4.2%, suggesting efforts to make these positions more competitive may be gaining ground.

For current drivers, those changes are showing up in more than hourly rates. Some districts are pairing higher pay with benefits, additional work between routes, and training support as they compete with other driving and public-sector jobs.

School Bus Driver Wages Continue to Rise

The median hourly wage for school bus drivers reached $22.45 in August 2025, according to the Economic Policy Institute. After adjusting for inflation, that represented the strongest year-over-year wage growth for the occupation since the pandemic.

Public school systems have also seen more progress in rebuilding their driver workforce than private employers. State and local government school bus driver employment increased by nearly 9,900 positions from fall 2024 through August 2025, even as privately employed driver numbers declined during the same period.

National numbers vary considerably from one district to another, but they point to a changing hiring environment in which transportation departments are paying closer attention to what it takes to attract and keep qualified drivers.

One New York District Takes a Different Approach to Recruiting

East Greenbush Central School District in New York offers one example. The district entered the 2025-26 school year short nearly 14 bus runs, which led to consolidated routes and required other qualified transportation employees to help cover service.

Rather than relying solely on traditional job postings, East Greenbush held a recruitment event that allowed prospective employees to get behind the wheel of a school bus on a closed course with a trainer. Participants could experience the vehicle and talk with existing drivers before deciding whether to pursue the required licensing and training.

Superintendent Kurtis Kotes said the event led to approximately five to eight hires, helping the district move into a better staffing position.

That hands-on approach has continued. The district has promoted similar opportunities for prospective drivers to test-drive a bus and learn about the application and training process.

Pay and Benefits Are Becoming Part of the Competition

East Greenbush currently advertises regular school bus driver positions starting at $28.61 per hour. Drivers average approximately five to six hours per day, and training is available for candidates who need to obtain the appropriate license.

Benefits have also become an important part of the district’s recruiting strategy. Kotes noted that school transportation departments are not simply competing with neighboring districts for employees. Warehouses, delivery operations, other public-sector employers and seasonal jobs can all draw from the same workforce.

That competition is encouraging districts to look beyond the hourly rate. For someone considering school bus driving as a primary job, health coverage and the opportunity to pick up more hours can significantly change the value of the position.

More Hours Can Make Split Shifts Work Better

The traditional school bus schedule remains one of the industry’s more difficult recruiting challenges. Morning and afternoon routes can leave several hours in the middle of the day without scheduled driving work.

East Greenbush has tried to make that gap more useful by offering opportunities for additional hours. Depending on availability, drivers can pick up field trips or work in other roles such as custodial and cleaning assignments.

Those options will differ by district, but they give drivers another factor to consider when comparing positions. The posted hourly wage does not necessarily reveal how many paid hours are available during a typical week or whether additional assignments can supplement regular route work.

Administrators Are Getting a Closer Look at the Job

East Greenbush has also taken an unusual step to better understand the work its transportation department performs. Kotes and the district’s interim human resources director went through the licensing process themselves.

Kotes completed five weeks of training before earning a Class B CDL with school bus and passenger endorsements. His preparation included defensive driving, student management, vehicle inspections, emergency procedures, and other requirements before completing the road test.

He drove his first student route in December 2025 and has since helped cover sports and after-school transportation when needed.

For the district, having administrators complete the process provided firsthand experience with the training and responsibilities involved in becoming a school bus driver.

Districts Are Still Looking for Drivers

The national school bus driver workforce has not returned to its 2019 size, and staffing conditions remain different from one school system to another. Still, the latest employment numbers show some movement in a positive direction.

Higher wages are part of that change, while districts such as East Greenbush are also experimenting with hands-on recruiting, paid training, benefits, and opportunities for drivers to add hours outside their regular routes.

For experienced school bus drivers and people considering entering the field, that makes it worth looking beyond a district’s starting hourly rate. Daily guaranteed hours, benefits, training assistance, field trips, and other available assignments can make two seemingly similar positions considerably different once the entire compensation package is considered.

The ProDriverPoint editorial team creates practical content covering industry news, operations, technology, safety, and workforce developments for professional drivers and transportation businesses. Each article is written to help readers understand the changes affecting passenger transportation and the services they provide.

Last Updated: September 10, 2026

Source: Fox Business