How much does a bus driver make in San Diego?
$61,290a year
Median yearly pay for bus drivers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $29.47 an hour or $5,108 a month.
- Hourly
- $29.47
- Vs. national median
- +4%
- Rank among cities
- 31 of 171
- Jobs in the area
- 1,720
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $49,480Median: $61,290Highest 10%: $70,530
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,480 | $23.79 | |
| 25th | $54,710 | $26.30 | |
| Median | $61,290 | $29.47 | |
| 75th | $61,290 | $29.47 | |
| 90th | $70,530 | $33.91 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for bus drivers.
| San Francisco, CA | $78,900 |
| Salinas, CA | $71,290 |
| Sacramento, CA | $70,680 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $68,020 |
| Fresno, CA | $62,170 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $60,320 |
| Napa, CA | $59,560 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $57,780 |
| Riverside, CA | $56,940 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $54,140 |
| Oxnard, CA | $53,560 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $49,000 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Airline Pilot | $322,000 |
| Commercial Pilot | $128,100 |
| Ship Engineer | $85,310 |
| Traffic Technician | $85,100 |
| Transportation Inspector | $83,000 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $79,720 |
| Captain | $76,490 |
| Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor | $74,590 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $69,300 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $63,550 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus driver make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $29.47 ($61,290 a year).
Do bus drivers make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $61,290 against $59,050 nationally, 4% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $67,130, so San Diego pays 9% less.
Where does San Diego rank for bus driver pay?
31 of 171 metro areas with data.
How much does a bus driver make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $49,480 or less a year; the top 10% make $70,530 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.