Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,160 a year or less, while the top 10% make $85,990 or more. The middle half of bus drivers, transit and intercity in Chicago earn between $61,720 and $85,990.
- $52K10th
- $62K25th
- $65KMedian
- $86K75th
- $86K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,760 | $5,897 | $34.02 |
| Median | $65,200 | $5,433 | $31.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,720 | $5,143 | $29.67 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $85,990 | $7,166 | $41.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $70,760, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $55,248 a year, or $4,604 a month and $2,125 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $56,517 | $4,710 |
| Working in IL | $55,248 | $4,604 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for bus drivers, transit and intercity? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $70,760 buys what about $68,304 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 4 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
Highest-paying cities for bus drivers, transit and intercity
Seattle, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($79,800).
- Seattle, WA$79,800
- San Francisco, CA$76,190
- Boston, MA$73,820
- New York, NY$73,350
- Portland, OR$71,070
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary in Chicago: questions
How much do bus drivers, transit and intercity make an hour in Chicago?
$34.02 an hour on average, and $31.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bus drivers, transit and intercity salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,160 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bus drivers, transit and intercity take-home pay in Chicago?
About $55,248 a year ($4,604 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,760.
Do bus drivers, transit and intercity earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($62,299).
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 53-3052; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.53, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.