How much does a bus driver make in Des Moines?
$46,210a year
Median yearly pay for bus drivers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area. That is $22.22 an hour or $3,851 a month.
- Hourly
- $22.22
- Vs. national median
- -4%
- Rank among cities
- 193 of 348
- Jobs in the area
- 860
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $28,410Median: $46,210Highest 10%: $62,850
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,410 | $13.66 | |
| 25th | $44,790 | $21.53 | |
| Median | $46,210 | $22.22 | |
| 75th | $57,320 | $27.56 | |
| 90th | $62,850 | $30.22 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for bus drivers.
| Ames, IA | $54,780 |
| Omaha, NE | $50,850 |
| Sioux City, IA | $48,760 |
| Iowa City, IA | $48,530 |
| Waterloo, IA | $47,100 |
| Davenport, IA | $46,720 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $46,220 |
Related jobs in Des Moines
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Airline Pilot | $161,000 |
| Commercial Pilot | $121,500 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $75,760 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Worker | $61,340 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $60,720 |
| Bus Driver | $58,930 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $56,990 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator | $49,080 |
| Laborer and Freight | $46,370 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $46,330 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus driver make an hour in Des Moines?
The median hourly pay in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $22.22 ($46,210 a year).
Do bus drivers make more in Des Moines than the national average?
No: $46,210 against $47,920 nationally, 4% less.
How does Des Moines compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $46,320, so Des Moines pays 0% more.
Where does Des Moines rank for bus driver pay?
193 of 348 metro areas with data.
How much does a bus driver make starting out in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% make $28,410 or less a year; the top 10% make $62,850 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.