Bus Drivers, School Salary in Kentucky

Bus drivers, school in Kentucky earn the most in Louisville (average $57,040 a year) and the least in Paducah ($40,790), across the 6 Kentucky metro areas we cover. Statewide, BLS puts the bus drivers, school average at $46,600 and the median at $44,830 for 6,820 workers. The U.S. average for this job is $48,430.

Bus Drivers, School average salary by city in Kentucky

Louisville$57,040
Lexington$53,940
Elizabethtown$46,120
Bowling Green$44,450
Owensboro$42,550
Paducah$40,790

Pay, take-home pay and cost of living

City	Average	Median	25th pct.	Take-home*	Cost of living
Louisville	$57,040	$55,640	$45,820	$44,878	93
Lexington	$53,940	$52,260	$47,140	$42,267	93
Elizabethtown	$46,120	$48,110	$41,450	$36,841	91
Bowling Green	$44,450	$45,250	$44,220	$35,568	90
Owensboro	$42,550	$44,560	$41,800	$34,240	89
Paducah	$40,790	$37,750	$37,550	$32,829	86

*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer; includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%). Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.

Bus Drivers, School salary in other states

Bus Drivers, School salary by city and state

More about pay in Kentucky

Sources and how to read this page

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-3051.
U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.

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