Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity pay in California
$66,930avg. a year
$32.18 an hour · 24,380 employed
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in California earn an average of $66,930 a year. That is $6,650 (11%) more than the U.S. average of $60,280. The best-paying metro area is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $76,190.
$67,130Median pay
$32.18Average hourly
+23%Avg. pay since 2020
#7Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for bus drivers, transit and intercity by metro area. Swipe to see all 13.
15,540 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$76,190
$36.63 an hour
2180 jobs
Salinas, CA
$69,690
$33.51 an hour
310,140 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$65,950
$31.71 an hour
4370 jobs
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$63,730
$30.64 an hour
5180 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$60,000
$28.84 an hour
6810 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$59,880
$28.79 an hour
71,720 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$59,770
$28.74 an hour
8
Fresno, CA
$58,450
$28.10 an hour
91,550 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$58,120
$27.94 an hour
10100 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$57,700
$27.74 an hour
11170 jobs
Napa, CA
$54,430
$26.17 an hour
12190 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$53,050
$25.51 an hour
13330 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$51,000
$24.52 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California bus drivers, transit and intercity work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $48k$48k–$53k$53k–$60k$60k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $60,280 | $28.98 |
| California | $66,930 | $32.18 |
| Nevada | $68,100 | $32.74 |
| Oregon | $66,860 | $32.14 |
| Arizona | $55,180 | $26.53 |
Related jobs in California
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$62,020
- Light Truck Drivers$53,310
- Driver/Sales Workers$48,220
- Bus Drivers, School$60,520
- Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$46,500
- Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$51,520
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do bus drivers, transit and intercity make in California?
The average is $66,930 a year, and the median is $67,130. That is $6,650 (11%) more than the U.S. average of $60,280.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$32.18 an hour on average; the median is $32.27.
Where in California do they earn the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($76,190), followed by Salinas, CA ($69,690). The lowest average among 13 metro areas with data is Bakersfield-Delano, CA ($51,000).
How does California rank?
California ranks #7 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 53-3052. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national bus drivers, transit and intercity page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.