What is the best state to be a bus drivers, school?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Washington is the best state for a bus drivers, school: a BLS median of $63,370 is worth $59,217 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 107.0), an index of 124.9 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. Massachusetts has the highest headline BLS median for a bus drivers, school at $65,170, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #2 of 51 on real pay (index 123.9). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

Where does a bus drivers, school salary go least far?

Alabama ranks last of 51 states for a bus drivers, school: a $17,630 BLS median is worth only $19,154 after tax and cost of living (index 40.4). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Bus Drivers, School

Best States to Be a Bus Drivers, School

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a bus drivers, school salary goes furthest in Washington — a $63,370 BLS median worth $59,217 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 124.9).

Which US states are best for a bus drivers, school after cost of living and tax?

For a bus drivers, school, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Washington #1: a $63,370 BLS median becomes $59,217 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 124.9). Alabama ranks last ($19,154, index 40.4). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Washington ranks #1 of 51 states for a bus drivers, school. Index 100 = the average state; 124.9 means pay goes 24.9% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

124.9

Bus Drivers, School — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Washington	$63,370	—	107.0	$59,217	124.9
2	Massachusetts	$65,170	$3,039	105.8	$58,749	123.9
3	Connecticut	$61,520	$1,843	103.6	$57,597	121.5
4	North Dakota	$50,790	—	89.0	$57,094	120.4
5	Vermont	$56,580	$1,477	98.0	$56,252	118.6
6	Rhode Island	$58,700	$1,601	102.3	$55,826	117.7
7	California	$61,040	$1,759	110.7	$53,542	112.9
8	New Jersey	$59,430	$1,736	108.8	$53,025	111.8
9	Alaska	$54,200	—	102.4	$52,951	111.7
10	Maryland	$56,450	$2,349	105.0	$51,545	108.7
11	Nebraska	$47,760	$1,387	90.1	$51,466	108.5
12	Utah	$52,890	$2,406	98.9	$51,064	107.7
13	Hawaii	$59,090	$2,961	110.0	$51,049	107.6
14	Iowa	$46,320	$1,720	87.8	$50,819	107.2
15	Arkansas	$45,500	$1,566	86.9	$50,535	106.6
16	Missouri	$46,880	$1,322	90.8	$50,164	105.8
17	New York	$56,640	$2,510	107.9	$50,157	105.8
18	Indiana	$48,020	$1,411	93.3	$49,941	105.3
19	Colorado	$52,620	$1,655	103.1	$49,455	104.3
20	Wisconsin	$47,760	$1,379	94.1	$49,292	103.9
21	Wyoming	$45,520	—	92.7	$49,109	103.6
22	Kansas	$45,860	$1,759	90.1	$48,964	103.3
23	New Hampshire	$50,990	—	104.2	$48,951	103.2
24	Ohio	$45,860	$479	92.8	$48,916	103.2
25	Tennessee	$44,510	—	91.9	$48,449	102.2
26	District of Columbia	$55,450	$2,229	109.9	$48,426	102.1
27	Maine	$48,640	$1,668	97.0	$48,399	102.1
28	New Mexico	$45,470	$1,035	92.2	$48,188	101.6
29	Kentucky	$44,830	$1,662	90.2	$47,879	101.0
30	Minnesota	$48,940	$1,839	98.6	$47,760	100.7
31	Virginia	$50,190	$2,086	101.1	$47,579	100.3
32	Pennsylvania	$47,530	$1,459	97.6	$47,217	99.6
33	Montana	$46,220	$1,589	94.6	$47,156	99.4
34	Idaho	$46,250	$1,514	95.5	$46,847	98.8
35	Illinois	$49,090	$2,289	100.0	$46,821	98.7
36	Michigan	$46,380	$1,725	96.2	$46,411	97.9
37	Oregon	$51,270	$3,682	103.4	$46,040	97.1
38	Texas	$44,490	—	97.1	$45,839	96.7
39	Arizona	$46,050	$676	100.7	$45,069	95.0
40	South Dakota	$39,730	—	88.6	$44,849	94.6
41	Georgia	$44,950	$1,776	96.3	$44,836	94.5
42	Florida	$44,690	—	103.4	$43,215	91.1
43	South Carolina	$39,900	$866	93.7	$41,636	87.8
44	Delaware	$42,390	$1,676	99.8	$40,793	86.0
45	Oklahoma	$36,920	$1,216	87.8	$40,645	85.7
46	North Carolina	$37,460	$1,050	94.3	$38,600	81.4
47	Nevada	$37,280	—	100.0	$37,288	78.6
48	West Virginia	$33,360	$878	89.5	$36,294	76.5
49	Mississippi	$30,640	$543	87.0	$34,613	73.0
50	Louisiana	$29,450	$509	88.2	$32,811	69.2
51	Alabama	$17,630	$617	88.8	$19,154	40.4

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Washington, a $63,370 salary is worth about $59,217 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $0 (no state income tax) · take-home $63,370 · BEA cost of living 107.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $71,535, a $12,318 gain over Washington.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$71,535	88.6
2	Arkansas	$70,049	86.9
3	Louisiana	$69,687	88.2
4	Mississippi	$69,672	87.0
5	Iowa	$69,463	87.8
6	North Dakota	$69,454	89.0
7	Tennessee	$68,978	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$68,713	87.8
9	Wyoming	$68,367	92.7
10	Alabama	$67,777	88.8
11	Kentucky	$67,475	90.2
12	West Virginia	$67,394	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Bus Drivers, School — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a bus drivers, school?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Washington is the best state for a bus drivers, school: a BLS median of $63,370 is worth $59,217 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 107.0), an index of 124.9 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. Massachusetts has the highest headline BLS median for a bus drivers, school at $65,170, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #2 of 51 on real pay (index 123.9). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a bus drivers, school salary go least far?: Alabama ranks last of 51 states for a bus drivers, school: a $17,630 BLS median is worth only $19,154 after tax and cost of living (index 40.4). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a bus drivers, school is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.