Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity Salary in South Dakota: $43,000 Average

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Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET

Average base salary, South Dakota

$43,000 / year

≈ $3,600 per month · $20.67 per hour

LocationOr metro areaOr industry (Grahall)Or city (Grahall)

BLS May 2025 state data for South Dakota · median $43,000

25th percentile
$39,500Average
$43,00075th percentile
$48,000

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary by state

Alabama$41,000

Alaska$67,500

Arizona$57,000

Arkansas$41,500

California$69,500

Colorado$64,000

Connecticut$61,500

Delaware$58,000

District of Columbia$58,000

Florida$53,500

Georgia$50,500

Hawaii$64,500

Idaho$51,000

Illinois$70,000

Indiana$57,500

Iowa$48,000

Kansas$42,500

Kentucky$51,500

Louisiana$49,500

Maine$57,500

Maryland$70,500

Massachusetts$73,000

Michigan$51,000

Minnesota$55,000

Mississippi$40,000

Missouri$56,500

Montana$48,500

Nebraska$48,000

Nevada$70,500

New Hampshire$57,000

New Jersey$64,000

New Mexico$44,500

New York$77,000

North Carolina$46,000

North Dakota$51,500

Ohio$60,500

Oklahoma$53,000

Oregon$69,000

Pennsylvania$56,000

Rhode Island$54,000

South Carolina$43,000

South Dakota$43,000

Tennessee$53,500

Texas$51,000

Utah$53,500

Vermont$57,000

Virginia$56,500

Washington$76,000

West Virginia$43,000

Wisconsin$55,500

Wyoming$53,000

Total cash compensation

Base salary plus target bonus using the Grahall equation. Bonus is a function of base; higher base means a higher target bonus.

Base salary

$62,500

National baseline

Target bonus

$6,000

9.7% of base

Total target cash

$68,500

Base plus target bonus

Bonus range (25th to 75th percentile): $3,500 to $10,000

Long-term incentive (LTI) varies by industry and executive tier and is not included in this view.

About this role

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity is a professional role within the function in the Transportation and Material Moving job family.

Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

What Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercitys do

Typical education: High School Diploma

Drive vehicles over specified routes or to specified destinations according to time schedules, complying with traffic regulations to ensure that passengers have a smooth and safe ride.
Park vehicles at loading areas so that passengers can board.
Inspect vehicles and check gas, oil, and water levels prior to departure.
Announce stops to passengers.
Assist passengers, such as elderly or individuals with disabilities, on and off bus, ensure they are seated properly, help carry baggage, and answer questions about bus schedules or routes.

Top skills: Operation and Control Operations Monitoring Time Management Service Orientation Critical Thinking Active Listening

Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity pay by experience level

Entry level$41,500

Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)

Early career$49,000

A few years in (about the 25th percentile)

Experienced$61,000

Mid-career median pay

Senior$73,000

Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)

Top earners$87,500

Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)

Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.

Job outlook

+4.3%

projected change in jobs, 2024–2034

20,900

projected openings per year

Growing about as fast as average

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary by industry

Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS

95,340 workers

$67,500

Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)

87,530 workers

$66,500

Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation

56,310 workers

$56,000

Urban Transit Systems

27,240 workers

$60,000

Charter Bus Industry

13,070 workers

$53,000

Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation

8,610 workers

$51,500

State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)

7,810 workers

$73,000

Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation

5,530 workers

$50,500

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation

2,190 workers

$53,000

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land

2,150 workers

$53,000

National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.

How this role compares

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity pays 9% below the average across 53 roles in the Transportation and Material Moving job family (family average $69,000).

Similar-paying roles in Transportation and Material Moving

Rail Transportation Workers, All Other$62,000

Traffic Technician$64,500

Airfield Operations Specialist$66,000

Sailors and Marine Oilers$59,000

Motorboat Operator$58,500

Dredge Operator$58,000

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor$67,500

Bridge and Lock Tenders$57,500

First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling$69,000

Hoist and Winch Operators$70,000

Careers related to Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity

Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$41,500

Taxi Driver$51,500

Bus Drivers, School$50,000

Subway and Streetcar Operators$80,000

School Bus Monitor$36,500

Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$82,000

Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity make?

The average base salary for a Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in the United States is $62,500 per year, or about $30.05 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $49,000 and $73,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Transportation and Material Moving roles?

The Transportation and Material Moving job family averages $69,000 across 53 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.

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