How to hire bus drivers, school
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Check the condition of a vehicle's tires, brakes, windshield wipers, lights, oil, fuel, water, and safety equipment to ensure that everything is in working order. • Comply with traffic regulations to operate vehicles in a safe and courteous manner. • Drive gasoline, diesel, or electrically powered multi-passenger vehicles to transport students between neighborhoods, schools, and school activities. • Escort small children across roads and highways. • Follow safety rules as students board and exit buses or cross streets near bus stops. • Maintain order among students during trips to ensure safety. • Pick up and drop off students at regularly scheduled neighborhood locations, following strict time schedules. • Report any bus malfunctions or needed repairs. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: High school diploma or equivalent] • Strong active listening, critical thinking, monitoring, speaking and reading comprehension skills • Working knowledge of transportation, public safety and security, customer and personal service and English Language • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $23.04 an hour ($47,920 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for bus drivers, school
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to check the condition of a vehicle's tires, brakes, windshield wipers, lights, oil, fuel, water, and safety equipment to ensure that everything is in working order. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to comply with traffic regulations to operate vehicles in a safe and courteous manner. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to drive gasoline, diesel, or electrically powered multi-passenger vehicles to transport students between neighborhoods, schools, and school activities. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to escort small children across roads and highways. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- How do you keep track of your own work quality during a busy shift or week? Give an example of catching a problem early.
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What bus drivers, school do
- Check the condition of a vehicle's tires, brakes, windshield wipers, lights, oil, fuel, water, and safety equipment to ensure that everything is in working order.
- Comply with traffic regulations to operate vehicles in a safe and courteous manner.
- Drive gasoline, diesel, or electrically powered multi-passenger vehicles to transport students between neighborhoods, schools, and school activities.
- Escort small children across roads and highways.
- Follow safety rules as students board and exit buses or cross streets near bus stops.
- Maintain order among students during trips to ensure safety.
- Pick up and drop off students at regularly scheduled neighborhood locations, following strict time schedules.
- Report any bus malfunctions or needed repairs.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for bus drivers, school
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: Up to 1 month (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +0.7% over ten years, little or no change · about 56,500 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay bus drivers, school
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $65,170 |
| Washington | $63,370 |
| Connecticut | $61,520 |
| California | $61,040 |
| New Jersey | $59,430 |
| Mississippi | $30,640 |
| Louisiana | $29,450 |
| Alabama | $17,630 |
See bus drivers, school pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- School Bus Monitors
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- Light Truck Drivers
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- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.