What is the best state to be a bus drivers, transit and intercity?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, New York is the best state for a bus drivers, transit and intercity: a BLS median of $84,480 is worth $74,535 after the 2025 state income tax ($4,041) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 107.9), an index of 140.0 where the average state is 100.

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

Not necessarily. New York has the highest headline BLS median for a bus drivers, transit and intercity at $84,480, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 140.0). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

Where does a bus drivers, transit and intercity salary go least far?

Alabama ranks last of 51 states for a bus drivers, transit and intercity: a $37,700 BLS median is worth only $40,620 after tax and cost of living (index 76.3). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity

Best States to Be a Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a bus drivers, transit and intercity salary goes furthest in New York — a $84,480 BLS median worth $74,535 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 140.0).

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

For a bus drivers, transit and intercity, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks New York #1: a $84,480 BLS median becomes $74,535 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 140.0). Alabama ranks last ($40,620, index 76.3). 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

New York ranks #1 of 51 states for a bus drivers, transit and intercity. Index 100 = the average state; 140.0 means pay goes 40.0% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

140.0

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	New York	$84,480	$4,041	107.9	$74,535	140.0
2	Washington	$72,280	—	107.0	$67,543	126.9
3	Ohio	$62,760	$944	92.8	$66,631	125.2
4	Missouri	$60,660	$1,970	90.8	$64,624	121.4
5	Alaska	$64,150	—	102.4	$62,672	117.7
6	Illinois	$65,200	$3,086	100.0	$62,140	116.7
7	Nevada	$61,700	—	100.0	$61,713	115.9
8	Indiana	$58,410	$1,722	93.3	$60,740	114.1
9	Maryland	$65,220	$2,765	105.0	$59,504	111.8
10	Colorado	$63,010	$2,112	103.1	$59,094	111.0
11	Massachusetts	$65,460	$3,053	105.8	$59,010	110.9
12	Hawaii	$68,500	$3,676	110.0	$58,957	110.8
13	Oregon	$65,510	$4,928	103.4	$58,612	110.1
14	California	$67,130	$2,238	110.7	$58,609	110.1
15	Kentucky	$54,550	$2,051	90.2	$58,229	109.4
16	Delaware	$60,510	$2,681	99.8	$57,940	108.9
17	Maine	$57,870	$2,292	97.0	$57,268	107.6
18	Connecticut	$60,100	$1,780	103.6	$56,288	105.8
19	Oklahoma	$50,300	$1,852	87.8	$55,153	103.6
20	North Dakota	$48,890	—	89.0	$54,958	103.3
21	New Jersey	$61,140	$1,830	108.8	$54,510	102.4
22	Wisconsin	$52,660	$1,639	94.1	$54,223	101.9
23	Louisiana	$48,860	$1,091	88.2	$54,156	101.7
24	Vermont	$53,830	$1,385	98.0	$53,539	100.6
25	Arizona	$53,870	$872	100.7	$52,642	98.9
26	New Hampshire	$54,830	—	104.2	$52,638	98.9
27	Tennessee	$47,770	—	91.9	$51,997	97.7
28	Pennsylvania	$51,360	$1,577	97.6	$51,022	95.9
29	Iowa	$45,890	$1,704	87.8	$50,348	94.6
30	Texas	$48,740	—	97.1	$50,218	94.4
31	Virginia	$52,940	$2,244	101.1	$50,142	94.2
32	Idaho	$49,000	$1,670	95.5	$49,563	93.1
33	Wyoming	$45,630	—	92.7	$49,228	92.5
34	Utah	$50,730	$2,308	98.9	$48,978	92.0
35	Minnesota	$50,200	$1,925	98.6	$48,950	92.0
36	Nebraska	$45,120	$1,255	90.1	$48,684	91.5
37	District of Columbia	$55,580	$2,238	109.9	$48,537	91.2
38	New Mexico	$45,610	$1,041	92.2	$48,333	90.8
39	Michigan	$47,660	$1,779	96.2	$47,685	89.6
40	South Dakota	$41,590	—	88.6	$46,949	88.2
41	Florida	$48,300	—	103.4	$46,705	87.7
42	Montana	$45,640	$1,555	94.6	$46,580	87.5
43	Rhode Island	$48,610	$1,223	102.3	$46,331	87.0
44	Georgia	$45,500	$1,806	96.3	$45,376	85.3
45	North Carolina	$44,060	$1,331	94.3	$45,300	85.1
46	South Carolina	$43,330	$1,079	93.7	$45,068	84.7
47	Kansas	$41,340	$1,507	90.1	$44,225	83.1
48	Mississippi	$38,570	$892	87.0	$43,332	81.4
49	West Virginia	$39,260	$1,074	89.5	$42,667	80.2
50	Arkansas	$37,520	$1,255	86.9	$41,714	78.4
51	Alabama	$37,700	$1,620	88.8	$40,620	76.3

"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 New York, a $84,480 salary is worth about $69,747 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $9,208 (≈ top marginal 10.90% (upper bound)) · take-home $75,272 · BEA cost of living 107.9 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $95,365, a $25,618 gain over New York.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$95,365	88.6
2	Arkansas	$93,384	86.9
3	Louisiana	$92,901	88.2
4	Mississippi	$92,881	87.0
5	Iowa	$92,602	87.8
6	North Dakota	$92,591	89.0
7	Tennessee	$91,956	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$91,603	87.8
9	Wyoming	$91,142	92.7
10	Alabama	$90,355	88.8
11	Kentucky	$89,953	90.2
12	West Virginia	$89,844	89.5

Browse US jobs with salaries

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, Transit and Intercity — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a bus drivers, transit and intercity?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, New York is the best state for a bus drivers, transit and intercity: a BLS median of $84,480 is worth $74,535 after the 2025 state income tax ($4,041) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 107.9), an index of 140.0 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. New York has the highest headline BLS median for a bus drivers, transit and intercity at $84,480, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 140.0). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a bus drivers, transit and intercity salary go least far?: Alabama ranks last of 51 states for a bus drivers, transit and intercity: a $37,700 BLS median is worth only $40,620 after tax and cost of living (index 76.3). 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.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

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, transit and intercity is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.