How much does a bus driver make in San Diego?
$60,440a year
Median yearly pay for bus drivers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $29.06 an hour or $5,037 a month.
- Hourly
- $29.06
- Vs. national median
- +26%
- Rank among cities
- 31 of 348
- Jobs in the area
- 1,160
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $48,190Median: $60,440Highest 10%: $70,570
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,190 | $23.17 | |
| 25th | $50,350 | $24.21 | |
| Median | $60,440 | $29.06 | |
| 75th | $63,300 | $30.43 | |
| 90th | $70,570 | $33.93 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for bus drivers.
| San Jose, CA | $75,230 |
| San Francisco, CA | $73,680 |
| Napa, CA | $67,430 |
| Modesto, CA | $62,870 |
| El Centro, CA | $62,610 |
| Salinas, CA | $62,390 |
| Riverside, CA | $61,900 |
| Oxnard, CA | $61,720 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $61,580 |
| Merced, CA | $61,580 |
| Stockton, CA | $61,570 |
| Hanford, CA | $60,600 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $60,420 |
| Sacramento, CA | $60,390 |
| Visalia, CA | $59,490 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $59,100 |
| Chico, CA | $58,080 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $57,050 |
| Vallejo, CA | $54,030 |
| Fresno, CA | $52,650 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $51,880 |
| Yuba City, CA | $48,010 |
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 $29.06 ($60,440 a year).
Do bus drivers make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $60,440 against $47,920 nationally, 26% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $61,040, so San Diego pays 1% less.
Where does San Diego rank for bus driver pay?
31 of 348 metro areas with data.
How much does a bus driver make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $48,190 or less a year; the top 10% make $70,570 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.