SOC 53-3051 · Iowa City, IA metro

Bus Drivers, School Salary in Iowa City, IA

The average salary for bus drivers, school in Iowa City, Iowa is $47,770 a year ($22.97 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $48,530: half of the 190 people in this job in the Iowa City, IA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($48,430).

$47,770average per year

$22.97 / hourMedian $48,530Take-home ≈ $39,360

  • $25K10th
  • $39K25th
  • $49KMedian
  • $52K75th
  • $67K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

190people in this job
-1%vs U.S. average
#5 of 7Iowa metros
92cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Bus Drivers, School pay range in Iowa City

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $66,690 or more. The middle half of bus drivers, school in Iowa City earn between $39,330 and $52,090.

  • $25K10th
  • $39K25th
  • $49KMedian
  • $52K75th
  • $67K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$47,770$3,981$22.97
Median$48,530$4,044$23.33
Entry level (25th percentile)$39,330$3,278$18.91
Experienced (75th percentile)$52,090$4,341$25.04

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Bus Drivers, School pay in Iowa City vs. Iowa and the U.S.

Bus drivers, school in Iowa City earn about the same as the Iowa average ($47,980) and about the same as the U.S. average ($48,430). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $47,920.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Iowa City$47,770$48,530$24,840$66,690190
Iowa$47,980$46,320$28,440$63,2004,840
United States$48,430$47,920$29,240$65,730402,930

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Bus Drivers, School salary after taxes in Iowa City

On the average salary of $47,770, a single filer in Iowa City takes home about $39,360 a year, or $3,280 a month and $1,514 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.

Iowa paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Iowa City a good place for bus drivers, school? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Iowa City area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $47,770 buys what about $52,203 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Iowa City ($50,060). A typical home costs $302,063, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $47,770 is worth in another city

Bus Drivers, School salary in other Iowa cities

Iowa City ranks 5th of 7 Iowa metro areas for this job; Ames pays the most ($61,390).

All Bus Drivers, School salaries in Iowa

Highest-paying cities for bus drivers, school

San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($70,900).

Bus Drivers, School salary by city

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Reviewed before it counts. Bus Drivers, School in Iowa City, IA.

Bus Drivers, School salary in Iowa City: questions

How much do bus drivers, school make an hour in Iowa City?

$22.97 an hour on average, and $23.33 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level bus drivers, school salary in Iowa City?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,330, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the bus drivers, school take-home pay in Iowa City?

About $39,360 a year ($3,280 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,770. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.

Do bus drivers, school earn more in Iowa City than elsewhere?

The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($48,430).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-3051; area Iowa City, IA (26980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 0.76, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.76).

Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.