Bus Drivers, School pay range in Lake Charles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $19,120 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,380 or more. The middle half of bus drivers, school in Lake Charles earn between $23,080 and $50,750.
- $19K10th
- $23K25th
- $40KMedian
- $51K75th
- $64K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,700 | $3,392 | $19.57 |
| Median | $39,520 | $3,293 | $19.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,080 | $1,923 | $11.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $50,750 | $4,229 | $24.40 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bus Drivers, School pay in Lake Charles vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Bus drivers, school in Lake Charles earn 19% more than the Louisiana average ($34,270) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($48,430). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $47,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $40,700 | $39,520 | $19,120 | $64,380 | 370 |
| Louisiana | $34,270 | $29,450 | $21,000 | $50,750 | 6,670 |
| United States | $48,430 | $47,920 | $29,240 | $65,730 | 402,930 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bus Drivers, School salary after taxes in Lake Charles
On the average salary of $40,700, a single filer in Lake Charles takes home about $34,048 a year, or $2,837 a month and $1,310 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lake Charles a good place for bus drivers, school? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lake Charles area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.9), so the average $40,700 buys what about $47,407 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Lake Charles ($45,700). A typical home costs $202,237, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Bus Drivers, School salary in other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles ranks 3rd of 8 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Monroe pays the most ($47,540).
- Monroe$47,540
- New Orleans$41,720
- Lake Charles$40,700
- Lafayette$33,630
- Baton Rouge$33,420
- Slidell$32,170
- Houma$28,620
- Shreveport$28,330
Highest-paying cities for bus drivers, school
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($70,900).
- San Jose, CA$70,900
- San Francisco, CA$69,190
- Napa, CA$68,150
- Mount Vernon, WA$68,110
- Seattle, WA$67,350
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Bus Drivers, School salary in Lake Charles: questions
How much do bus drivers, school make an hour in Lake Charles?
$19.57 an hour on average, and $19.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bus drivers, school salary in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $19,120 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,080, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bus drivers, school take-home pay in Lake Charles?
About $34,048 a year ($2,837 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,700.
Do bus drivers, school earn more in Lake Charles than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less than the U.S. average for this job ($48,430).
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; area Lake Charles, LA (29340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.39, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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