SOC 53-3051 · New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro

Bus Drivers, School Salary in New Orleans, LA

The average salary for bus drivers, school in New Orleans, Louisiana is $41,720 a year ($20.06 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $47,570: half of the 1,100 people in this job in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($48,430).

$41,720average per year

$20.06 / hourMedian $47,570Take-home ≈ $34,837

  • $28K10th
  • $31K25th
  • $48KMedian
  • $48K75th
  • $55K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

1,100people in this job
-14%vs U.S. average
#2 of 8Louisiana metros
93cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Bus Drivers, School pay range in New Orleans

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $55,310 or more. The middle half of bus drivers, school in New Orleans earn between $30,750 and $47,790.

  • $28K10th
  • $31K25th
  • $48KMedian
  • $48K75th
  • $55K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$41,720$3,477$20.06
Median$47,570$3,964$22.87
Entry level (25th percentile)$30,750$2,562$14.78
Experienced (75th percentile)$47,790$3,982$22.98

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Bus Drivers, School pay in New Orleans vs. Louisiana and the U.S.

Bus drivers, school in New Orleans earn 22% more than the Louisiana average ($34,270) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($48,430). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $47,920.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
New Orleans$41,720$47,570$28,000$55,3101,100
Louisiana$34,270$29,450$21,000$50,7506,670
United States$48,430$47,920$29,240$65,730402,930

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Bus Drivers, School salary after taxes in New Orleans

On the average salary of $41,720, a single filer in New Orleans takes home about $34,837 a year, or $2,903 a month and $1,340 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).

Louisiana paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is New Orleans a good place for bus drivers, school? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the New Orleans area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $41,720 buys what about $45,055 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in New Orleans ($47,290). A typical home costs $261,414, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $41,720 is worth in another city

Bus Drivers, School salary in other Louisiana cities

New Orleans ranks 2nd of 8 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Monroe pays the most ($47,540).

All Bus Drivers, School salaries in Louisiana

Highest-paying cities for bus drivers, school

San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($70,900).

Bus Drivers, School salary by city

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Reviewed before it counts. Bus Drivers, School in New Orleans, LA.

Bus Drivers, School salary in New Orleans: questions

How much do bus drivers, school make an hour in New Orleans?

$20.06 an hour on average, and $22.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level bus drivers, school salary in New Orleans?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,750, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the bus drivers, school take-home pay in New Orleans?

About $34,837 a year ($2,903 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,720.

Do bus drivers, school earn more in New Orleans than elsewhere?

The average here is 14% 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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA (35380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
  • 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 0.95, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.

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