How much does a bus driver make in Santa Cruz?
$57,780a year
Median yearly pay for bus drivers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $27.78 an hour or $4,815 a month.
- Hourly
- $27.78
- Vs. national median
- -2%
- Rank among cities
- 52 of 171
- Jobs in the area
- 370
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $49,490Median: $57,780Highest 10%: $81,340
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,490 | $23.79 | |
| 25th | $57,780 | $27.78 | |
| Median | $57,780 | $27.78 | |
| 75th | $76,040 | $36.56 | |
| 90th | $81,340 | $39.11 |
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 |
| San Diego, CA | $61,290 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $60,320 |
| Napa, CA | $59,560 |
| Riverside, CA | $56,940 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $54,140 |
| Oxnard, CA | $53,560 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $49,000 |
Related jobs in Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
Salaries for every job in Santa Cruz, CAFrequently asked questions
How much does a bus driver make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $27.78 ($57,780 a year).
Do bus drivers make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
No: $57,780 against $59,050 nationally, 2% less.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $67,130, so Santa Cruz pays 14% less.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for bus driver pay?
52 of 171 metro areas with data.
How much does a bus driver make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $49,490 or less a year; the top 10% make $81,340 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.