Bus Drivers, School pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,670 or more. The middle half of bus drivers, school in Chattanooga earn between $26,990 and $49,670.
- $25K10th
- $27K25th
- $42KMedian
- $50K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,250 | $3,271 | $18.87 |
| Median | $42,460 | $3,538 | $20.41 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $26,990 | $2,249 | $12.98 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $49,670 | $4,139 | $23.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bus Drivers, School pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Bus drivers, school in Chattanooga earn 10% less than the Tennessee average ($43,400) and 19% less than the U.S. average ($48,430). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $47,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $39,250 | $42,460 | $24,600 | $49,670 | 870 |
| Tennessee | $43,400 | $44,510 | $22,900 | $61,600 | 7,050 |
| 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 Chattanooga
On the average salary of $39,250, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $33,717 a year, or $2,810 a month and $1,297 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $33,717 | $2,810 |
| Working in GA | $32,507 | $2,709 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for bus drivers, school? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $39,250 buys what about $42,913 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 8.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Bus Drivers, School salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 4th of 7 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Jackson pays the most ($48,930).
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 Chattanooga: questions
How much do bus drivers, school make an hour in Chattanooga?
$18.87 an hour on average, and $20.42 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bus drivers, school salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $26,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bus drivers, school take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $33,717 a year ($2,810 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,250. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do bus drivers, school earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% 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 Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.24, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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