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. Since the hours are so irregular, it is hard to get another part-time job. While ZipRecruiter is seeing weekly wages as high as $827 and as low as $298, the majority of School Bus Driver wages currently range between $567 (25th percentile) to $731 (75th percentile) across the United States. Federal law requires all commercial drivers, including school bus drivers, to carry a Department of Transportation medical card, which requires a DOT physical. But New York state has many needs and is commonly called the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. Coronavirus Pay: What About the School Bus Drivers? 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 could be part of the "beginning of the end," as New York Gov. Full-Time Bus Driver, Part-Time Schedule "Arris" has been a full-time bus driver for the Cape Cod collaborative since September 2009, generally working 45 hours per week, with one shift in the morning and one in the afternoon, Monday through Friday. 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. The national hourly pay for school bus drivers is $18.08. What do bus drivers do during field trips? Your local high school or district office will have information on whether this is a requirement in your area, and when and where you can take the appropriate course. By clicking the submit button below, you are agreeing with Bobit Business Medias Privacy Policy and this outlined level of consent. The Ontario Ministry of Education, in partnership with SBO has announced that the School Bus Driver Retention Program (DRP) would continue for the 2022/23 school year. Background 17 They leave their bags in plain sight and then blame the bus company when their belongings are stolen. you can earn some extra money, as you end up working between 40/50 hours per week. As of May 25, 2021, the average weekly pay for a School Bus Driver in the United States is $652 a week. No. In addition, school closures at the order of Gov. Since we assigned seats, I know which kid was sitting where and who made what mess., Careful and skilled driving remains the best preventative measure for keeping school kids safe during their commute, but the overall layout of the bus matters too. Rock gets on bus about 7:50 am and Rachele gets on bus about 6:40 am and returns 2:30 pm., stay until approx. Must have good hearing. Contracted drivers and bus attendants continue to be paid, said Robert Clinebell, director of transportation for Norfolk Public Schools. 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 because of that, very simple safety rule enforcement is a battle. In fact, some are using this time to prepare buses and drivers for the next school year, whenever that may start. To learn which documents you need to bring to apply for your permit, keep reading! In addition to having fewer students on board, those drivers usually benefit from having a bus monitor riding along to ensure cooperation without having to take their eyes off the road. Once you pass, sign up to take the written tests required to earn a Commercial Learners Permit. .Working as a bus driver, you will get a chance to do both, and at the same time earn decent money for it.87. 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. But Mike says they can often pinpoint the culprit. We are paid hourly, daily, or salaried weekly depending on the contractor. . 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. New buses can range in price from $90,000 to $290,000, depending on their features and specifications. You are going to have to come up with some money, in most cases, for this job even before or at least at the start of your school bus driver training, because you are going to need a pre-employment background check, drug test and a physical. Recently, a middle school girl boarded my bus in tears because she was jumped or attacked by another girl while walking to the bus. School Transportation Veteran to Newspaper: Bus Driver Pay a Factor in Shortage. 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. Bus Drivers in the Los Angeles Unified School District make $51,000 per year, or $25 per hour, which is 58 percent more than the national average of $28,000 per year for all Bus Drivers and 26 percent less than the national average wage for all working Americans. Several School Bus Drivers also transport students and teachers on field trips or to sporting events. Many bus drivers who are offered health and other benefits cannot afford them or, as we often say, they are working for benefits because there is nothing much left of their check after the premiums for them are deducted. 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. comments on FAQ: How Much Do School Bus Drivers Get Paid? Most drivers will operate other services as well as the school runs, and these are not likely to change. To become a bus or coach driver, you will need to complete training for a Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) licence and the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC Driver ). 1. When parents are shocked that a school bus driver does care, is this not a clear indication that our public school systems are failing on some level? While ZipRecruiter is seeing weekly wages as high as $827 and as low as $298, the majority of School Bus Driver wages currently range between $567 (25th percentile) to $731 (75th percentile) across the United States. mx. You must answer at least 80 percent of the questions correctly on both the general and endorsement tests to pass. Your email address will not be published. After at least 2 weeks with your CLP, sign up for the CDL skills test. School bus drivers are responsible for getting students to and from school safely. Some states charge an additional fee for the CDL itself, while others combine these fees together. Skills associated with School Bus Driver: I do take it personally because Im a resident. 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. 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. How much does a Bus Driver make at Metroline in London, England? You find [most] children work best with having assigned seats. Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications. Many governors are using executive orders to ensure school contractors and their drivers get paid. Bookmark +, Why do school bus drivers quit? Portions of the CHP 295 may be completed prior to an interview with a CHP school bus officer or coordinator, or the form may be completed with the school bus officer or coordinator during the interview process. Answer: It depends on the company. Within other Virginia districts, the individual schools decide if drivers would be used to deliver meals. The physical evaluates whether you are medically qualified to transport students safely. You'll have to pay a fee for this exam, which you must get before you apply for a commercial learner's permit (CLP). The state is providing virtual solutions to keep pace with the need to fill their pipeline with drivers, in anticipation of a school year startup on or about Sept. 1. 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. COVID-19 relief under the $2.2 trillion CARES Act included a $30.75 billion Education Stabilization Fund, whereby federal aid will be distributed to states, with each state receiving a calculated amount. ", with a qualified, approved and safe driver. This means you'll be tested for your CDL with P and S endorsements all at once. Areas tested include procedures for inspection and repair, safe vehicle operations, safety control systems such as lights and horns, vehicle control such as shifting, backing, and skid control, and basic vehicle control and safe driving skills. When I got home, I called her home on my own time and asked her father if she was all right. Your email address will not be published. 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. We are constantly brainstorming more ways to meet our communities needs.. ", "It was a very detailed step-by-step set of instructions broken down by state requirements. Sense of humour and a positive outlook are essential. 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. Good Paying Job. Such contraband might include chewing gum and open drinks. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Programs Services > Programs > School Bus Program, Asian Pacific Islander Community Outreach - Illegal Street Racing, Asian Pacific Islander Outreach Program - Statistics, Commercial Vehicle Safety Summit Presentations Online, Crash Data Collection For Commercial Vehicles, Hazardous Agricultural Materials Certificate, Partners in Safety - HazMat Information for Shippers and Carriers, Impaired Driving - Public Awareness Programs, CHP 295, Special Certificate Application(PDF), CHP 295J - Applicant/Carrier Document Checklist (PDF), CHP 296 - Application for School Bus Contractor's License (PDF), CHP 296A - How to Obtain or Renew a School Bus Contractor's License (PDF), https://oal.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/166/2020/04/2020-Notice-Register-Number-14-Z-April-3-2020.pdf, California Association of School Transportation Officials - Home (castoways.org). The most often cited advantages In California, the average compensation for an entry-level truck driver is $46,842 per year, according to Payscale. Andrew Cuomo described the downside of flattening the coronavirus curve in his daily press briefings. Typically reports to a supervisor. For example, Virginia is working on a legislative adjustment to expiring school bus driver physicals by at least 90 days, to a maximum of Jan. 1, 2021. Before you obtain a CDL, you will have to possess a CPL for a minimum of 2 weeks. 2. ", "I needed to know some things about bus driving. With schools closed nationwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some school bus drivers are getting paid, while others are notfor now. Do school bus drivers get paid in the summer? School Bus Driver drives a bus intended for school activities. You must be a minimum of 18 years of age to hold a bus driving licence and meet our minimum employment criteria (detailed in the application process). The criteria for this examination are based on all chapters of the 2014 American Red Cross, First Aid/CPR/AED Participants Manual (Item #656756). Agenda topics may be submitted for consideration to ResearchandPlanning@chp.ca.gov, or to any of the SPTAC members. Low Pay. 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 . We work a split shift, so there is a limited number of hours we can get. This article has been viewed 401,248 times. Sounds breezy, but Mike and most other drivers are paid by the number of hours worked. It varies from state to state, but you can check with your local DMV to find out your state's requirements. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. In the bus driving sector, you may make up to $44,000 per year if you work hard enough. All rights reserved. "This article has been a starting point for me to be a good school bus driver. Starting salaries of 500 per week (26,000 per annum for drivers starting on our entry grade) rising to over 31,000 per annum. Kim Morrison 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. 7 people answered. But in light of the increasing school bus driver shortages we are now seeing around the country, her statement seems almost prophetic, because it is ringing true all over. Learn more Driving a School Bus can be a very rewarding job! In fact, about half of school bus drivers in New York state have not been getting paid during the pandemic, according to Nichole Epstein, a spokesperson for the New York School Bus Contractors Association (NYSBCA). Your CLP allows you to practice your . Must be at least 18 years of age. I Need CDL Training Required fields are marked *. 1 Year Every new driver winds up paying all or a part of the cost of all these things. Your state drivers license office will check your driving record for the past 10 years, including every state in which youve had a license. Kim Morrison has been a school bus driver in Citrus County, Florida, for nearly 15 years. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Her father was angry about what happened to her, but he thanked me several times for checking on her and thanked me again when I saw him the next day. Drivers are able to take routes for summer school. The compliance date of the ELDT is February 7, 2020 (see below for proposed ELDT partial extension of compliance date). Kailua-Kona, HI, ALLURE LIFESTYLE COMMUNITIES - In many school districts, the face that parents and guardians see most frequently doesnt belong to the principal, the teacher, or even other studentsits the school bus driver, the man or woman charged with the awesome responsibility of getting dozens of children from their homes to their classroom in a safe and efficient manner. 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. The trouble is that the hours of our so-called part-time job are such that it makes it impossible to do any other part-time job, because no one will hire us for the hours we have left in our day. Our driver training programme is part of a Level 2 Passenger Transport Driver Bus apprenticeship programme. Each company we work with has specific experience requirements for their drivers. Most drivers do one of the following during the summer: Drive Summer School or Charter Routes. You must be at least 18 years old to get a CDL, but in some states you must be at least 21 years old to drive a school bus. Apart from the minimum wage, drivers are entitled to a drivers allowance (DA) of 144 percent and a human resource allowance (HRA) of 30 percent, as well as a set medical allowance of Rs 500 per month. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/11\/Get-a-School-Bus-Driver%27s-License-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Get-a-School-Bus-Driver%27s-License-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/11\/Get-a-School-Bus-Driver%27s-License-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1146271-v4-728px-Get-a-School-Bus-Driver%27s-License-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"