| Local government | $17.10 |
| Interurban and rural bus transportation | 15.86 |
| Urban transit systems | 13.49 |
| Charter bus industry | 10.81 |
| Other transit and ground passenger transportation | 10.74 |
Median hourly earnings of school bus drivers were $11.18 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $8.10 and $13.92 an hour. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $6.23, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $16.81 an hour. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of school bus drivers in May 2004 were as follows:
| School and employee bus transportation | $11.97 |
| Elementary and secondary schools | 10.74 |
| Other transit and ground passenger transportation | 10.62 |
| Child day care services | 9.28 |
| Individual and family services | 8.75 |
The benefits bus drivers receive from their employers vary greatly. Most intercity and local-transit bus drivers receive paid health and life insurance, sick leave, vacation leave, and free bus rides on any of the regular routes of their line or system. School bus drivers receive sick leave, and many are covered by health and life insurance and pension plans. Because they generally do not work when school is not in session, they do not get vacation leave.
Many intercity and local-transit bus drivers are members of the Amalgamated Transit Union. Local-transit bus drivers in New York and several other large cities belong to the Transport Workers Union of America. Some drivers belong to the United Transportation Union or to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition
