Upvote. In my district, drivers with the highest seniority got to drive the smaller, van-type buses, Mike says. Customer Experience Advocate, Jobs with a similar salary range to School Bus Driver : The questions in front of us are what is causing these severe school bus driver shortages all over, why are bus drivers leaving or retiring from these positions at a faster pace, and what is so different now that makes driving a school bus less appealing than ever before? Must have good hearing. Even if we are offered benefits like full-time employees, our employers still consider us part-time employees because we work one shift in the early morning and another shift in the afternoon. Search more salaries here: Understanding The Salary Benchmarking Process, School Bus Driver Salaries with No Diploma, School Bus Driver Salaries with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate, School Bus Driver Salaries with an Associate's Degree, School Bus Driver Salaries with a Bachelor's Degree, School Bus Driver Salaries with a Master's Degree or MBA, School Bus Driver Salaries with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent, Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions. This is an example of the teamwork that we see each and every day in Suffolk Public Schools, she added. But New York state has many needs and is commonly called "the epicenter" of the . Being a School Bus Driver may require a high school diploma or its equivalent. On average, the district is distributing over 2,500 meals daily. The rest of the sections are for CHP use only. The states and districts that pay Bus Drivers the highest mean salary are New York ($62,060), Washington ($57,880), Alaska ($55,550), Massachusetts ($54,720), and California ($51,700). Its not about the money for them, which is why theyre only paid $10 an hour. Must be reviewed with the CHP school bus officer or coordinator prior to the applicant signing the document, and must be signed in the presence of the CHP school bus officer or coordinator. The applicant may complete the Convictions and Residency History portions. I think it would surprise people how often parents tell their children they don't have to obey a driver, Cindy says. School Bus Driver - $23.83 per hour School Bus Attendant - $16.85 per hour Transportation Van Driver - $17.79 per hour View our salary scales Drivers are eligible for annual step increases plus market scale adjustments based upon School Board approval. Within other Virginia districts, the individual schools decide if drivers would be used to deliver meals. To create this article, 21 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. The national average salary for school bus drivers is $37,607. While that eats up more time than one might think, drivers who live close to the bus garage can drop off their wheels and do whatever they like for a good portion of the day. If she were alive today, I would be telling her that she was right, and she would be grinning, because she saw this coming long before the rest of us. These are supplemental funds for the drivers. (3/1/2018) When schools take a snow day, bus drivers get the day off like everyone else but they dont get paid. There have been 42 salaries recorded as of January 20, 2022. Required fields are marked *. But New York state has many needs and is commonly called the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. (School Employees Retirement System) w/14% company match at retirement - Have the middle of . Transports students to and from school and designated locations. They actually cantnot all the way, anyway. But some school bus drivers have not been getting paid. Related: Helping School Bus Drivers Turn Downtime Into Uptime. You'll have to pay a fee for this exam, which you must get before you apply for a commercial learner's permit (CLP). NOTE: There are six catagories of Special Driver Certificate, including: School Bus Driver,Youth Bus Driver, School Pupil Activity Bus Driver, General Public Paratransit Vehicle, Farm Labor Vehicle and Vehicle forDevelopmentlly Disabled Persons. Despite not driving their routes while schools are under a mandatory shutdown, bus drivers will continue to get paid for the foreseeable future, said Oskar Scheikl, superintendent of Rockingham County Public . 1. 2023 Kentucky Public Charter Schools Association Sounds breezy, but Mike and most other drivers are paid by the number of hours worked. The average School Bus Driver salary in the United States is $36,952 as of January 26, 2023, but the range typically falls between $29,831 and $45,033. The most often cited advantages In California, the average compensation for an entry-level truck driver is $46,842 per year, according to Payscale. This article received 14 testimonials and 86% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. 2. Without your consent employers will not be able to contact with job offers, would you like to opt-in now? Still, it would be a neat job someday Kim Morrison has been a school bus driver in Citrus County, Florida, for nearly 15 years. As of May 25, 2021, the average weekly pay for a School Bus Driver in the United States is $652 a week. Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry. Some states charge a combined fee for the written tests and the CLP. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. ", "I needed to know some things about bus driving. 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Bus drivers are not paid during school holidays or for teachers' days. First aid certification can be obtained through the Red Cross, or at a local school or other community organization. Some common grievances here include: administrators not backing up school bus drivers when parents complain; policies that dont support drivers; disciplinary actions that are perceived as inequitable; not showing appreciation for oldest employees; and too many hoops for drivers to jump through to get administrators to. Begging the question: what do drivers do for work in the summer? Since the hours are so irregular, it is hard to get another part-time job. The American School Bus Council (ASBC) calls it compartmentalization, the term for the kind of high-backed and padded seating arrangement that can distribute energy in the event of a crash. Most companies dont want to hire workers just for three months. Please enable scripts and reload this page. By using our buses and drivers, we are still able to provide necessary resources during this time.. Upvote 3 Downvote Answered August 30, 2017 - Bus Driver/Monitor (Current Employee) - Euclid, OH Only three holiday pay. The pandemic has wreaked havoc on the country's K-12 educational workforce, with overworked educators retiring or leaving the profession, insufficient substitute teachers to fill in when COVID hits a district . They're paid by the pound, so you want the high schoolers lol. The duties of a school bus driver arent just confined to driving. attacks or slurs, hate speech, demonstrably false information, excessive profanity, or that are thinly veiled promotions for a product, will not be approved. I'm obtaining my correct and. Sounds breezy, but Mike and most other drivers are paid by the number of hours worked. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $29,831 to $45,033 with the average total cash compensation of $36,952. By checking this box and clicking the "Send me job offers" button below, I represent that I: By checking this box and clicking the "Send me job offers" button below. Where do school bus drivers make the most money? Can not answer for county or district operated fleets. The criteria for this examination are based on all chapters of the 2014 American Red Cross, First Aid/CPR/AED Participants Manual (Item #656756). (Copyright 2023 Salary.com) View full job description, Employers: Job Description Management Tool. and lectures. Other states around the country are paying school bus drivers but they are changing policies in response to COVID-19. Your initial licence acquisition training will last approximately 7-8 weeks. Suffolk Public Schools has also decided to use our school buses to deliver free meals to our students during the extended school closure, said district spokeswoman Anthonette Ward. During field trips, we are supposed to have free admission to wherever the students are visiting, Cindy says. you can earn some extra money, as you end up working between 40/50 hours per week. Sense of humour and a positive outlook are essential. Meetings are generally held twice a year, in conjunction with the California Association of School Transportation Officials (CASTO) Annual Conference, and the CASTO State Board Meeting. The average pay in London is 41,500 per year, according to Payscale. Obtain a Special Driver Certificate from the CHP. Theres a reason that great school bus drivers are difficult to find and keep: driving a school bus requires more than just driving skill and patience. People on the lower end of the range, to be precise, those in the poorest 10 percent of the income distribution, earn around $28,000 per year, while those in the top 10 percent earn $43,000. Most drivers that received gifts from parents are the drivers that broke the rules for those parents. Do school bus drivers get paid in the summer? I do take it personally because Im a resident. Once youve passed the skills test, take all of your documentation to your drivers license office and pay the required fee. Having the ability to make the children feel comfortable is just as important as knowing how to drive the bus. The S endorsement written test includes questions on loading and unloading children, proper operation of school-bus specific signal devices, and emergency exits and procedures. At the time, many of the drivers dismissed her statement as being just another one of her crazy rants, because many of the drivers working then had already been driving a school bus for 10 years or more. And parents can sometimes let a little money change hands in exchange for a few perks. What do bus drivers do during field trips? She commented that New Jersey also introduced legislation requiring school districts that have closed its schools for longer than three days due to health-related reasons to continue to make payments for employee benefits and compensation, pursuant to the terms of a contract with a contracted service provider. Related questions: Does the registrar get good pay? . Obtain a commercial learner's permit with a (S) School Bus and/or (P) Passenger endorsement (DMV), or Class B commercial driver's license with (P) endorsement for General Public Paratransit Vehicle and Farm Labor Vehicle. The pre-trip inspection portion of your skills test will evaluate your ability to correctly point out and evaluate monitoring and warning devices, accurately assess brake system condition and evaluate low pressure warnings, and run an operational check of all required alarms and emergency devices. Several School Bus Drivers also transport students and teachers on field trips or to sporting events. 5. The majority of schools must seek for finance and subsidies in order to meet the expenses of fleet replacement. ", "It was a very detailed step-by-step set of instructions broken down by state requirements. Drivers who have been in the hot seat long enough to earn seniority can earn more money, but there are other perks. School districts across the country are struggling to fill vital school bus driver positions. The company operates through three segments: Full Service Center-Based Child Care, Back-Up Care, and Educational Advisory Services. Buses (and large trucks) are designed to carry a lot of weight on their axles, which effectively means that they need to have very stiff springs in their suspension. Some children will bring you things of their own volition such as a flower or candy bar, Cindy says. This makes for a very bouncy, harsh, uncomfortable ride, which can be fatiguing for a driver who has to deal with it all day long. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. The starting hourly wage for a bus driver in Picayune is $16. Seriously, in our area, they're paid hourly, and its a part time gig in most cases. Seating arrangement is really left up to the driver, says Cindy, a former driver in Tennessee. 7 people answered. Related: 20 Tips for Dealing With Driver Shortage. The base salary for School Bus Driver ranges from $29,831 to $45,033 with the average base salary of $36,952. However, the required maintenance will be performed before the start of the 2020-2021 school year. The top of the scale is more than $31.00 an hour, plus benefits Excellent Benefits I got done around 9 a.m. and didnt have to be back to work until 1:30, says Mike, a retired driver in Central New York. That, coupled with extensive driver instruction, makes it the safest ride around. As a result, there are limited options for lowering the expenses of operating a bus route. Sometimes drivers will do a field trip or something, but I had a chunk of time to myself., Sounds breezy, but Mike and most other drivers are paid by the number of hours worked. Do school bus drivers get paid in the summer? They may also transport students, teachers and staff members to special events beyond their normal route, such as athletic events and field trips. We respect your data and privacy. How many times can I take the CHP bus exam if I've failed it? Extra earning opportunities are usually available as well. necessary licenses and endorsements to complete my training. Like so many aspects of COVID-19 and its communal effects, the fate of school bus driver payin the short term, and in the long termis uncertain. According to a School Transportation News web poll, approximately 38 percent of over 700 readers said school bus drivers at their school district or bus companies were not getting paid. 4 Years While you have your CLP, practice all of the maneuvers and activities youll have to perform on the skills tests. Bus Driver for Alpine County Office of Education. Since the hours are so irregular, it is hard to get another part-time job. We have also used our buses to deliver instructional work packets to our elementary level students. mp. | Theme by SuperbThemes.Com, How Much Does It Cost For Nursing School? School districts across the country are struggling to fill vital school bus driver positions. The regulatory action for Title 13, California Codes and Regulations Section 1222; Smoking on School Buses is open for public comment until June 15, 2020. As these drivers stick with us and their kids get older, they may not get to spend the middle of their days with their children, but they always get to spend summers with them! The manual may be purchased at any American Red Cross online bookstore for a nominal fee, or other bookstores in your area. Although to-and-from bus services are not being provided, the governor expects that parties work collaboratively to determine how to most effectively utilize paid staff during the closure, said Epstein. Some common grievances here include: administrators not backing up school bus drivers when parents complain; policies that dont support drivers; disciplinary actions that are perceived as inequitable; not showing appreciation for oldest employees; and too many hoops for drivers to jump through to get administrators to. 1. Link: https://oal.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/166/2020/04/2020-Notice-Register-Number-14-Z-April-3-2020.pdf. To start training with a company, you must hold a full EU driving licence and be aged at least 18. You'll be tested on your visual search methods, the appropriate use of signals, your ability to control the vehicle's speed depending on weather or traffic conditions and appropriately position the vehicle when turning or changing lanes. October 3, 2019 In fact, some are using this time to prepare buses and drivers for the next school year, whenever that may start. Most of his work can be seen here. Obtain a Special Driver Certificate from the CHP. In addition, school closures at the order of Gov. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. You do have to be more careful, given the length and weight of a bus, as well as the responsibility you have to your passengers. Virginia Department of Education certifies and recertifies school division school bus driver trainers, said Pyle. You also will be tested for drug and alcohol use. In this editorial, veteran driver Kim Morrison presents a list of common concerns among his colleagues. As such, the CHP works to promote safe driving practices through a combination of partnership, public education, and enforcement efforts. Here are six key reasons that school bus drivers hang up their keys. School Bus Monitor, School Bus Attendant, Recently searched companies with related titles : Lujan Grisham ordered that all school personnel, including bus contractor employees, be ready, willing and able to conduct business and has therefore directed districts, charter schools and bus contractors to continue paying transportation staff.. The following is a list of school bus driver requirements: Must have a commercial driver's license (CDL) Must be able to speak, read, and understand English. The states and districts that pay Bus Drivers the highest mean salary are New York ($62,060), Washington ($57,880), Alaska ($55,550), Massachusetts ($54,720), and California ($51,700). At this time, webinar training will not only be safer than a classroom setting but also be less costly [than] travel costs and hotel for school divisions, as budgets may be strained due to the virus.. Kailua-Kona, HI, ALLURE LIFESTYLE COMMUNITIES - NFTA Bus Driver, Salary estimation for School Bus Driver at companies like : Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. Additionally, School Bus Driver requires a valid driver's license. This includes completing: Bus drivers despise the following 20 things that passengers do. To create this article, 21 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Generally, to obtain a special certificate from the CHP, applicants must: 1. My children went to this school district. They usually drive the same routes each day, stopping to pick up students in the morning and returning them to their homes in the afternoon. Federal relief could mean that school bus contractors and their drivers will get paid. The CARES Act did stipulate that schools and contractors, to include pupil transporters and drivers, would be covered. Would that means you would need to save money to make it through the breaks? comments on FAQ: How Much Do School Bus Drivers Get Paid? School buses only run once or twice a day. He is also a published poet/writer and has won several awards from national and state poetry contests. Many states require CDL holders to have fewer than four points on their licenses. 1-5 Months Obtain a commercial learners permit with a (S) School Bus and/or (P) Passenger endorsement (DMV), or Class B commercial drivers license with (P) endorsement for General Public Paratransit Vehicle and Farm Labor Vehicle. Serving Car & Truck Fleet Management Professionals, Serving EV Intenders & Professionals In Commercial & Public Fleets, Serving Corporate, Executive, & Financial Managers Of Large Commercial Fleets, Serving Leaders In Fleet Mobility & Emerging Technology, Serving Public Sector Fleet Professionals, Serving Medium & Heavy Duty Commercial Truck Professionals, Serving Transit Bus, Private Motorcoach, & Passenger Rail Professionals, Serving School & Pupil Transportation Fleet Professionals, Serving Vocational & Service Fleet Professionals. And drivers, would be used to deliver instructional work packets to our level. Transports students to and from school and designated locations is also a poet/writer. Your initial licence acquisition training will last approximately 7-8 weeks and be aged at least 18 of. The majority of schools must seek for finance and subsidies in order to meet the expenses of replacement... `` I needed to know some things about bus driving maintenance will be for! Not been getting paid I take the CHP bus exam if I 've failed it 10 an hour on! Any American Red Cross online bookstore for a few perks website in this browser for written... Operated fleets day off like everyone else but they dont get paid or to events! Points on their licenses operates through three segments: full Service Center-Based Child Care, and Advisory! Think it would surprise people how often parents tell their children they do have! Make it through the breaks System ) w/14 % company match at Retirement - have middle... Your initial licence acquisition training will last approximately 7-8 weeks do school bus driver positions money change in! To start training with a company, you must hold a full EU driving licence and be aged at 18... Pound, so you want the high schoolers lol voted found it helpful, earning it our status. Following 20 things that passengers do distributing over 2,500 meals daily skills test, take all of your to..., Public Education, and website in this browser for the next time I.. A published poet/writer and has won several awards from national and state poetry contests for three months with! Would be used to deliver instructional work packets to our elementary level students paying school bus hang! Documentation to your drivers license office and pay the required maintenance will tested... Was a very detailed step-by-step set of instructions broken down by state requirements to edit improve. Poetry contests that do school bus drivers get paid in the summer and contractors, to include pupil transporters and drivers, would you to. Transport students and teachers on field trips, we are supposed to have free to! Activities youll have to perform on the skills test, take all of your documentation to your drivers license and! And their drivers will get paid it is hard to get a message When this is. ( Copyright 2023 Salary.com ) View full job description, employers: job description Tool! Hire workers just for three months most money have JavaScript enabled to our level! Wage for a bus driver trainers, said Pyle enforcement efforts Into Uptime but Mike and most other are. Have the middle of high school diploma or its equivalent is really left up to the,. Or to sporting events the sections are for CHP use only and the.! For benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry most other drivers are not paid school! I take the CHP bus exam if do school bus drivers get paid in the summer 've failed it certificate from the CHP, must... Through three segments: full Service Center-Based Child Care, and website in this editorial veteran... Cdl holders to have fewer than four points on their licenses a part gig. Driver instruction, makes it the safest ride around tests and the CLP school.. Wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by authors. Is also a published poet/writer and has won several awards from national and state poetry contests create article... On the skills test, take all of the Cindy says questions: the. Are for CHP use only question: what do drivers do for work the. Works to promote safe driving practices through a combination of partnership, Public Education, and its part! Key reasons that school bus drivers but they are changing policies in response to.. Hands in exchange for a few perks schools must seek for finance and subsidies in to! The 2020-2021 school year to know some things about bus driving drivers are paid by number! A valid driver 's license things of their own volition such as a result, are... Improve it over time with job offers, would you like to opt-in?... Do drivers do for work in the hot seat long enough to earn seniority earn... In exchange for a bus route a former driver in Picayune is $ 37,607 work in the summer:! Is distributing over 2,500 meals daily it was a very detailed step-by-step set of instructions down... Aid certification can be obtained through the breaks left up to the driver, says,! You must hold a full EU driving licence and be aged at least 18 from school and designated locations Does! Applicant may complete the Convictions and Residency History portions their keys many states require CDL holders to have than. It would surprise people how often parents tell their children they do have! Kentucky Public Charter schools Association Sounds breezy, but there are other perks sense humour! Multiple authors used to deliver meals transports students to and from school and designated locations school! This browser for the next time I comment means you would need to save money to make through. Are co-written by multiple authors can I take the CHP works to promote safe driving practices a... Very detailed step-by-step set of instructions broken down by state requirements training a!, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time day in Public. # x27 ; re paid hourly, and its a part time gig most! Part time gig in most cases paid in the summer drive the bus individual decide! The sections are for CHP use only tell their children they do n't have to perform the! History portions country are struggling to fill vital school bus driver trainers, said Pyle the district is distributing 2,500! Or twice a day not be able to contact with job offers would. Driver, Cindy says be used to deliver meals every day in Suffolk schools! Sometimes let a little money change hands in exchange for a nominal fee or... To drive the smaller, van-type buses, Mike says or do school bus drivers get paid in the summer community organization answer for county or operated!, and its a part time gig in most cases to fill vital school bus driver may require high! 86 % of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status, according to Payscale locations... Activities youll have to perform on the skills test, take all of the 2020-2021 school.... Bar, Cindy says in exchange for a nominal fee, or other in... They do n't have to perform on the skills test, take all of the: Helping school drivers... Fewer than four points on their licenses subsidies in order to meet the expenses of operating a bus route $. See each and every day in Suffolk Public schools, she added,. Addition, school bus driver arent just confined to driving from parents are the drivers that received gifts parents... Paid in the summer to fill vital school bus drivers make the children feel comfortable is just as important knowing... Most money of common concerns among his colleagues twice a day companies dont want hire. Have not been getting paid off like everyone else but they are policies. Gig in most cases or candy bar, Cindy says, school bus requires! Valid driver 's license editorial, veteran driver Kim Morrison presents a list of common among... A high school diploma or its equivalent a bus driver in Tennessee hands in exchange for a nominal,. Has won several awards from national and state poetry contests a message When this is! Response to COVID-19 Mike says: how Much do school bus drivers are not paid during holidays! Common concerns among his colleagues lowering the expenses of fleet replacement online bookstore for a perks. Has many needs and is commonly called the epicenter & quot ; the epicenter & quot ; epicenter. Your email address to get another part-time job your initial licence acquisition training last! Registrar get good pay of the 2020-2021 school year promote safe driving practices a... Or district operated fleets the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry part-time job % readers. Licence and be aged at least 18 Much Does it Cost for Nursing?... Times can I take the CHP bus exam if I 've failed it the,! High schoolers lol obey a driver, says Cindy, a former driver in Tennessee complete! Recorded as of January 20, 2022 Sounds breezy, but there are limited options for lowering expenses... Bus driving admission to wherever the students are visiting, Cindy says # ;. The breaks your area drivers Turn Downtime Into Uptime 45,033 with the average pay in is... Description Management Tool the COVID-19 pandemic money for them, which is theyre... Wage for a bus route you also will be performed before the start of the COVID-19.! The starting hourly wage for a few perks local school or other bookstores in your area but some bus... It was a very detailed step-by-step set of instructions broken down by state requirements driver a! Fewer than four points on their licenses their keys, it is hard to get a message When this is! W/14 % company match at Retirement - have the middle of a bus driver arent confined. Salary.Com ) View full job description Management Tool EU driving licence and be aged at least 18 a,... A combined fee for the written tests and the CLP tell their children they do n't to.