What Does A Transit and Intercity Bus Driver Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers

Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers drive bus or motor coach, including regular route operations, charters, and private carriage. May assist passengers with baggage. May collect fares or tickets.

Salary
$48110
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match


What they do

Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers drive bus or motor coach, including regular route operations, charters, and private carriage. May assist passengers with baggage. May collect fares or tickets.

  • 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.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers maintain the cleanliness of the bus or motor coach. They inspect vehicles and check gas, oil, and water levels prior to departure.

A typical day for a Transit and Intercity Bus Driver will also include:

  • 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.
  • Read maps to plan bus routes.
  • Record information, such as cash receipts and ticket fares, and maintain a logbook.
  • Collect tickets or cash fares from passengers.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers also make minor repairs to vehicles and change tires. They may also load and unload baggage in baggage compartments.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers handle passenger emergencies or disruptions. They might also read maps to plan bus routes.

In addition, they report delays or accidents.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them advise passengers to be seated and orderly while on vehicles.

To some Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers, it is also their responsibility to assist passengers, such as elderly or disabled individuals, on and off the bus, ensure they are seated properly, help carry baggage and answer questions about bus schedules or routes.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

Average

52% said they were satisfied with their job and 52% said they found their job meaningful.


Pros

Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.

This career is perfect for people who love to work outdoors.

It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Normal working hours (40 hours per week).

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to work with designs.

Salary is below average.

How much do they make

Average salary

$48110 per year

Average hourly wage

$23 per hour

Entry-level Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $28,330 to $35,160 per year or $14 to $17 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $72,750 $35
Senior (Top 25%) $60,630 $29
Median $45,900 $22
Junior (Bottom 25%) $35,160 $17
No experience (Bottom 10%) $28,330 $14

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
State Government $62650 $30.12
Performing Arts Companies $62450 $30.02
Local Government $54330 $26.12
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation $44120 $21.21
Employment Services $43620 $20.97
Urban Transit Systems $43320 $20.83
Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing $42770 $20.56
Civic and Social Organizations $41150 $19.78
School and Employee Bus Transportation $40180 $19.32
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land $39720 $19.10

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Local Government 77870 $54330 $26.12
Urban Transit Systems 25050 $43320 $20.83
Charter Bus Industry 12590 $38440 $18.48
Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation 10400 $38130 $18.33
School and Employee Bus Transportation 9780 $40180 $19.32
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation 7560 $44120 $21.21
State Government 6740 $62650 $30.12
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land 2350 $39720 $19.10
Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services 1490 $38160 $18.35
Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing 1320 $42770 $20.56

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
24%

40 hours
47%

More than 40 hours
29%

Working schedule

83%

17%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
9%

Every day
20%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
21%

Every day
18%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
3%

Every day
62%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
55%

Once a year
19%

Once a month
3%

Once a week
9%

Every day
15%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
47%

Slightly competitive
15%

Moderately competitive
21%

Highly competitive
9%

Extremely competitive
8%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
51%

Once a year or more
3%

Once a month or more
6%

Once a week or more
6%

Every day
34%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
63%

Once a year or more
25%

Once a month or more
2%

Once a week or more
6%

Every day
3%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
26%

Once a year or more
20%

Once a month or more
6%

Once a week or more
7%

Every day
41%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
66%

Once a year or more
8%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
2%

Every day
24%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Easy
You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category usually don’t require a degree. However, you will need a few months of on-the-job training with experienced employees. Similar careers include Customer Service Representatives, Security Guards, and Bank Tellers.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
13%

High School Diploma or equivalent
84%

Post-Secondary Certificate
2%

Some College Courses
1%

Associate’s Degree or similar
0%

Bachelor’s Degree
0%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

Truck and Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator and Instructor

A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to drive trucks and buses, delivery vehicles, for-hire vehicles and other commercial vehicles, or to instruct commerical vehicle operators. Includes instruction in operating gas, diesel, or electrically-powered vehicles; loading and unloading cargo or passengers; reporting delays or accidents on the road; verifying load against shipping papers; arranging transportation for personnel; and keeping records of receipts and fares.

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
38%

1 month
1%

1 to 3 months
10%

3 to 6 months
11%

6 months to 1 year
7%

1 to 2 years
18%

2 to 4 years
9%

4 to 6 years
0%

6 to 8 years
7%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
0%

1 month
30%

1 to 3 months
61%

3 to 6 months
10%

6 months to 1 year
0%

1 to 2 years
0%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Builder

People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

The Builder
100%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
14%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
14%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
52%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
43%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
33%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
43%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
43%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
29%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
71%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
71%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
62%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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