Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity pay range in Columbus
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,570 or more. The middle half of bus drivers, transit and intercity in Columbus earn between $37,420 and $47,570.
- $37K10th
- $37K25th
- $48KMedian
- $48K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,700 | $3,558 | $20.53 |
| Median | $47,570 | $3,964 | $22.87 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,420 | $3,118 | $17.99 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,570 | $3,964 | $22.87 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity pay in Columbus vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Bus drivers, transit and intercity in Columbus earn 13% less than the Georgia average ($48,850) and 29% less than the U.S. average ($60,280). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $59,050.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $42,700 | $47,570 | $36,940 | $47,570 | 80 |
| Georgia | $48,850 | $45,500 | $37,310 | $57,940 | 3,700 |
| 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 Columbus
On the average salary of $42,700, a single filer in Columbus takes home about $35,107 a year, or $2,926 a month and $1,350 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Columbus, GA-AL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in GA | $35,107 | $2,926 |
| Working in AL | $34,742 | $2,895 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbus a good place for bus drivers, transit and intercity? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbus area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.3), so the average $42,700 buys what about $47,818 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbus ($43,540). A typical home costs $209,527, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary in other Georgia cities
Columbus ranks 2nd of 2 Georgia metro areas for this job; Atlanta pays the most ($51,200).
- Atlanta$51,200
- Columbus$42,700
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 Columbus: questions
How much do bus drivers, transit and intercity make an hour in Columbus?
$20.53 an hour on average, and $22.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bus drivers, transit and intercity salary in Columbus?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,420, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bus drivers, transit and intercity take-home pay in Columbus?
About $35,107 a year ($2,926 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,700.
Do bus drivers, transit and intercity earn more in Columbus than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% less 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 Columbus, GA-AL (17980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.63, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.63).
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