Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $81,340 or more. The middle half of bus drivers, transit and intercity in Santa Cruz earn between $57,780 and $76,040.
- $49K10th
- $58K25th
- $58KMedian
- $76K75th
- $81K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $63,730 | $5,311 | $30.64 |
| Median | $57,780 | $4,815 | $27.78 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,780 | $4,815 | $27.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $76,040 | $6,337 | $36.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Bus drivers, transit and intercity in Santa Cruz earn 5% less than the California average ($66,930) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($60,280). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $59,050.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $63,730 | $57,780 | $49,490 | $81,340 | 370 |
| California | $66,930 | $67,130 | $48,600 | $90,810 | 24,380 |
| United States | $60,280 | $59,050 | $40,030 | $84,700 | 159,240 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $63,730, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $51,361 a year, or $4,280 a month and $1,975 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Santa Cruz a good place for bus drivers, transit and intercity? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Cruz area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.9), so the average $63,730 buys what about $57,991 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 18.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 4th of 13 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($76,190).
- San Francisco$76,190
- Salinas$69,690
- Los Angeles$65,950
- Santa Cruz$63,730
- Santa Rosa$60,000
- Sacramento$59,880
- San Diego$59,770
- Fresno$58,450
- Riverside$58,120
- San Luis Obispo$57,700
All Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for bus drivers, transit and intercity
Seattle, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($79,800).
- Seattle, WA$79,800
- San Francisco, CA$76,190
- Boston, MA$73,820
- New York, NY$73,350
- Portland, OR$71,070
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Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do bus drivers, transit and intercity make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$30.64 an hour on average, and $27.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bus drivers, transit and intercity salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,780, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bus drivers, transit and intercity take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $51,361 a year ($4,280 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $63,730. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do bus drivers, transit and intercity earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% more than the U.S. average for this job ($60,280).
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 53-3052; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 3.69, this job is 3.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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