Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,460 a year or less, while the top 10% make $52,310 or more. The middle half of bus drivers, transit and intercity in Detroit earn between $40,600 and $52,310.
- $37K10th
- $41K25th
- $47KMedian
- $52K75th
- $52K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,890 | $3,908 | $22.54 |
| Median | $47,460 | $3,955 | $22.82 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,600 | $3,383 | $19.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $52,310 | $4,359 | $25.15 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity pay in Detroit vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Bus drivers, transit and intercity in Detroit earn 5% less than the Michigan average ($49,340) and 22% less than the U.S. average ($60,280). At the median the gap is -20% against the U.S. median of $59,050.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $46,890 | $47,460 | $37,460 | $52,310 | 980 |
| Michigan | $49,340 | $47,660 | $38,020 | $65,710 | 3,620 |
| United States | $60,280 | $59,050 | $40,030 | $84,700 | 159,240 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary after taxes in Detroit
On the average salary of $46,890, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $37,124 a year, or $3,094 a month and $1,428 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Is Detroit a good place for bus drivers, transit and intercity? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Detroit area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.3), so the average $46,890 buys what about $46,751 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary in other Michigan cities
Detroit ranks 4th of 5 Michigan metro areas for this job; Ann Arbor pays the most ($60,760).
- Ann Arbor$60,760
- Midland$50,200
- Grand Rapids$48,550
- Detroit$46,890
- Flint$44,710
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
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Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary in Detroit: questions
How much do bus drivers, transit and intercity make an hour in Detroit?
$22.54 an hour on average, and $22.82 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bus drivers, transit and intercity salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,460 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,600, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bus drivers, transit and intercity take-home pay in Detroit?
About $37,124 a year ($3,094 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,890. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do bus drivers, transit and intercity earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% less than the U.S. average for this job ($60,280).
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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.50, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.50).
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