SOC 53-3051 · Santa Fe, NM metro

Bus Drivers, School Salary in Santa Fe, NM

The average salary for bus drivers, school in Santa Fe, New Mexico is $44,610 a year ($21.45 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $40,760: half of the 40 people in this job in the Santa Fe, NM metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 8% less than the U.S. average for this job ($48,430).

$44,610average per year

$21.45 / hourMedian $40,760Take-home ≈ $37,073

  • $35K10th
  • $35K25th
  • $41KMedian
  • $51K75th
  • $60K90th

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

40people in this job
-8%vs U.S. average
#2 of 3New Mexico metros
99cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Bus Drivers, School pay range in Santa Fe

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,570 or more. The middle half of bus drivers, school in Santa Fe earn between $34,670 and $51,320.

  • $35K10th
  • $35K25th
  • $41KMedian
  • $51K75th
  • $60K90th

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

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$44,610$3,718$21.45
Median$40,760$3,397$19.60
Entry level (25th percentile)$34,670$2,889$16.67
Experienced (75th percentile)$51,320$4,277$24.67

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

Bus Drivers, School pay in Santa Fe vs. New Mexico and the U.S.

Bus drivers, school in Santa Fe earn 5% less than the New Mexico average ($46,790) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($48,430). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $47,920.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Santa Fe$44,610$40,760$34,670$59,57040
New Mexico$46,790$45,470$31,020$65,1401,870
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 Santa Fe

On the average salary of $44,610, a single filer in Santa Fe takes home about $37,073 a year, or $3,089 a month and $1,426 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).

New Mexico paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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

Prices in the Santa Fe area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.8), so the average $44,610 buys what about $45,167 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Fe ($48,710). A typical home costs $558,896, or 12.5 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $44,610 is worth in another city

Bus Drivers, School salary in other New Mexico cities

Santa Fe ranks 2nd of 3 New Mexico metro areas for this job; Albuquerque pays the most ($45,790).

All Bus Drivers, School salaries in New Mexico

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 Santa Fe, NM.

Bus Drivers, School salary in Santa Fe: questions

How much do bus drivers, school make an hour in Santa Fe?

$21.45 an hour on average, and $19.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level bus drivers, school salary in Santa Fe?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,670, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the bus drivers, school take-home pay in Santa Fe?

About $37,073 a year ($3,089 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,610.

Do bus drivers, school earn more in Santa Fe than elsewhere?

The average here is 8% 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 Santa Fe, NM (42140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.6%.
  • 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 0.23, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.23).

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