Bus Drivers, School pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $57,150 or more. The middle half of bus drivers, school in Columbia earn between $30,630 and $48,800.
- $29K10th
- $31K25th
- $37KMedian
- $49K75th
- $57K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,540 | $3,378 | $19.49 |
| Median | $36,960 | $3,080 | $17.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,630 | $2,552 | $14.73 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,800 | $4,067 | $23.46 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bus Drivers, School pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Bus drivers, school in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($39,640) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($48,430). At the median the gap is -23% against the U.S. median of $47,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $40,540 | $36,960 | $28,790 | $57,150 | 990 |
| South Carolina | $39,640 | $39,900 | $23,640 | $57,150 | 5,900 |
| United States | $48,430 | $47,920 | $29,240 | $65,730 | 402,930 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bus Drivers, School salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $40,540, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $34,243 a year, or $2,854 a month and $1,317 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for bus drivers, school? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $40,540 buys what about $43,283 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Bus Drivers, School salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 4th of 7 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($46,430).
- Charleston$46,430
- Spartanburg$44,120
- Greenville$42,450
- Columbia$40,540
- Florence$35,300
- Hilton Head Island$29,830
- Myrtle Beach$29,550
Highest-paying cities for bus drivers, school
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($70,900).
- San Jose, CA$70,900
- San Francisco, CA$69,190
- Napa, CA$68,150
- Mount Vernon, WA$68,110
- Seattle, WA$67,350
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Bus Drivers, School salary in Columbia: questions
How much do bus drivers, school make an hour in Columbia?
$19.49 an hour on average, and $17.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bus drivers, school salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,630, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bus drivers, school take-home pay in Columbia?
About $34,243 a year ($2,854 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,540.
Do bus drivers, school earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less than 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.6%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.97, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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