How Much Bus Drivers In Los Angeles, CA Earn | Bus Driver Salary!
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- Опубліковано 10 жов 2022
- How much money do city bus drivers earn in Los Angeles California? This doesn’t reflect overtime worked. Just a rough estimate based off of the hourly pay rate. Bus driver salaries!
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Here in LA the traffic is horrible and drivers and pedestrians don't respect buses. A lot of homeless people on the streets, narrow streets, etc. , rent for a tiny apartment $2,500 a month in a ugly neighborhood. $23 an hour is not enough.
Former LA Metro bus operator here. The first 5 years of being a bus operator are really rough with LA Metro. If you’re able to hold down a schedule, it’ll only be the worst ones that no one with some decent seniority want. Remember LA Metro has many Owl runs, which are bus lines that operate through the graveyard shift. Once a rookie operator realizes they’re stuck on some of the more difficult lines/schedules they’ll decide to jump onto the Extraboard schedule, where at least they’ll be making lots of money with all the overtime offered there. But Extraboard means you have no life! No work/life balance. There were many times when I’d max out my DOT hours and was forced an 10 hour rest period. It’s very common to see LA Metro operators pull in way over 100k within there 3rd or 4th year on, through this schedule.
hey question im starting monday but still having thoughts like if its worth it. right now i make 1200 a week but i work 55 hours a week. i know its gonna be tough at first but im thinking long term like how much will i make once i make it to $42 and how long does it take to get a good schedule?
@@delainacorinhello there ... Did you end up going thru with the bus driver job? How is it?
SFMTA IN CALIFORNIA PAY $27 AS TRAINEE THEN MOVE UP TO 31ST MONTH $38.65
That $42 top pay is cause of the new contract that just took effect. It was $33 for the longest time!
I do remember it being lower than $42. That’s good that it was increased because the cost of living is high out there!
@@BusDriverLife Pffft! Tell me about it. My wife and I go shopping every couple of weeks and even as recently as February and March, a regular trip to the market for her, my two sons and me would come out to $80-$95. Now, same amount of groceries, sometimes we try and cut back as to only get essentials, depending on our schedules, a regular trip now is anywhere from $120-$160 easily!
That's a huge jump, but a good win.
@@BusDriverLife so for metro at 5 year mark should you expect to get that 40 dollar an hour wage or is it one of those things where the plus means it could take years past that point?
in san mateo or samtrans for starting pay is $29@@BusDriverLife
i’m a fan of Los Angeles Metro. The drivers i’ve noticed and the buses i’ve been on it’s pretty normal and alright they are chill as well. Despite the fact packed buses they get flipped off and they get nasty mouth from the customer about the A/C not working but i realized that the bus the customer was on it barely came out of the division yard for rush hour and i stood up for that driver and explained it to the customer lol. Great Video! 👍🏽
You have no idea how much that means to drivers. The focus needs to be on safely operating the bus.
@@LightbornCastles Exactly, the drivers will always have a special place in me when it comes to sticky situations i would stand up than standing with people that complain for little things that the driver can’t control.
Great and insightful Information you give us.I start training for my class B drivers license for L.A. Metro and yes the physical and verbal abuse one is not surprising but it is when you see it on the job description lol.Keep those great videos coming when u can, Thanks!
I’m so glad I discovered your channel when I was deciding if I wanted to drive for my cities metro. We’re starting at 22, top out in 5/6 years with an additional 3% yearly COL, and we’re paying double overtime right now 🤑🤑
I drive city bus up in Duluth, MN, our starting is around 24/hr and our top is around 27/hr after 3 years. Are current contract gives us a .40 cent raise annually until 2026. We have very decent benefits as well.
Great Video 💖💕
Thank you!
Here in San Francisco (SFMTA) pays starting $30 with Training, and then it goes from around $32 to $48. Pay goes up with seniority and there is different runs that pay more or less, the one that pays more are the owls or the LRV (Train) Divisions.
$48 with overtime? SFMTA $27 AS TRAINEE THEN MOVE UP TO 31ST MONTH $38.65... NOT $48
I’ve been hitting 72000 a year with the small transit agency I work for in a college town an hour away from Chicago my pay rate is 21.50 but there is unlimited overtime plus the cost of living is very cheap because I live in a rural area but still close enough to Chicago I’m living very comfortable
My local transit agency only starts at $19/hour, tops out at $34/hour.
You are the reason I like busses more now
Reno,NV. our cap is 27.87 ph currently. Cost of living here is high but no where near as high a California.
You are right the cost of living is a major factor. 40 hrs is hardly ever seen especially with driver shortage almost everywhere. The low end is between 45 and 50hrs a week. The one's who love overtime could make well over 100k a year easy. Either way bus operator's today can make good money. My first year was around 55k without all the overtime, no hustling. Not bad starting out. Top rate is around 80k here in Philly and that's the minimum.
Oh yeah I didn’t account for overtime purposely…it’s the same in Sacramento. We get well over 40hrs a week especially with the driver shortage. I was just trying to keep it general with the generic 40hr work week to keep it simple. Nice pay in Philly I see!
@@BusDriverLife I get a lot of " that's it" when they think what they see on Google or job postings about the hourly rate here but they don't understand that what you put in is what you get out of it, no matter what you can make a good honest living being a transit driver. I enjoy you videos keep them coming. Good layover content 👌
@@bossman8231 I’ll definitely make sure I mention the overtime factor more on future videos. People don’t realize that a lot of drivers are making 6 figures due to the overtime…even when there isn’t a driver shortage! I appreciate you watching!
is 80K the top rate or the minimum?
@@PulseAndrew You can make way more working overtime.
Also, regarding the top pay, it’s usually earlier than 5 years. Maybe 4.5 years
I drive for NCTD in San Diego County. Our contract just changed to start at $22/hr and top pay is $30 after 10 years. May change in 2 years but they are desperate for drivers. Used to be $16.
Los Angeles Metro currently has MOT (mandatory overtime) so the actual total is higher
I’m sure. Overtime always increases the pay. I was just keeping it simple with an average full time work week/month. It’s difficult to factor in overtime because it varies. I’m sure the top pay operators can easily clear 100k a year.
@@BusDriverLife They're the ones driving the Benz's and Vettes! Or them huge 4X4's that take up all the parking in our already condensed lot. 😂
The overtime is consistent, regular operators work up to 60 plus hours a week and extra board at least 70 plus hours. All forced ot. So most of us clear 100,000 easily.
God knows how many times I have to work on my day off 😢 but them checks 😮🎉
@@tiguere8292 bro what happens if you refuse to work after 50 hours per say ??
I’ve heard that the LA Metro monitors it’s drivers both on and off the clock. Is this normal in the industry?
I am an Aussie bus driver and I honestly thought big city drivers in America made less as we hear about how bad wages are over there. The rates between us are very similar except we all start on the same money and after X amount of years it does not change, we have lots of loadings and penalties which push alot of us from 80-90k to over the 100k.
My Cousin he is about to start, with Rockland Coaches as a Bus Driver.
Hey, off topic but I've been trying to figure this out as I'm debating becoming a driver. Routes here can be hours long, not because of the stops, just literally driving. Do drivers get a GPS of some sort for their route or is it all memory work?
Don't know what city you are in but bus driver training kinda always teach you the routes, it's a big part of bus operator training. As far as GPS I can't speak for other city's but I doubt you have GPS on a public transit bus. The company have a GPS on the bus but it's not for you, it's for them to locate and track you.
@@bossman8231 Ah, thanks!
San Diego CA. Two hour from LA. They start you at 18.58 and top pay is 25. Bummer
You're referring to transdev Chula Vista
I saw thier ad on indeed. I drive for a private transportation in San Diego I make 25 and hour.
Can you do a video on San Diego we have two transit systems MTS who operates in the city of San Diego and points south to the border and east even routes to Anza borrego and Escondido to connect with NCTD who run in the county with routes in the northern area of San Diego with a route to UTC in La Jolla to connect with MTS via route 101 and there coster train from Oceanside to downtown San Diego and there sprinter train to Escondido. MTS runs a trolley to UTC,Santee,El Cajon, and the border all trolley routes go through downtown and 12th and imperial station
My home town! 🤗
@@donalddodson7365 I’m in Point Loma
@@vinceghio Vince, I grew up in Point Loma, now retired in La Mesa. I drove school busses going to college, and enjoy Kewan's sense of humor. Take care.
@@donalddodson7365
I live in Encanto, do you know that where that's at? Lol
LACMTA employee here and I have to tell you I really enjoy working with my co-workers but on occasion I do get routy passengers and they yell or scream at me. I just don't take it personal. Metro have giving me financial freedom to be able to take care of my family. I'm not rich by any means but I'm happy my family is happy. I don't work on the busses but I work for a different Deptmarment that drives its smaller fleets in different areas
Nice!! Thanks for checking in!!
Whats the pay like over there bro ?
@@jcb4415 part time bus operators and myself since the contract lumps me in with them. I got paid 17.75 in 2021 2 years later I’m at 24.1 and hour. Which is not bad for me since I’m going to school.
Which ones?
@@911lucy69 what do you mean which ones?
For the 2020 / 2021 financial year here in South Australia I managed to earn $76,000 as a metro bus driver with no real effort. One of my work colleagues who is single and has no friends by choice earned over $102k.
I've since quit that job and I'm the happiest I've been doing a school run. Two hours in the morn. Two in the afternoon with a three hour job each Wednesday lunchtime. 23 hours a week at $30 / hour. Happy daze 😊😊
Happiness is what matters! Glad you are enjoying what you are doing! Sometimes the big bucks are not always the answer! Thanks for watching!!
$30 per hour. If that is AUD, that is about $20.19 in USD.
Everything cost alot more over in Australia.
Example:
Xbox Series X costs $499.99 in USA versus $749 in Australia.
USD to AUD conversion has it to about $742 AUD.
SFMTA IN CALIFORNIA PAY $27 AS TRAINEE THEN MOVE UP TO 31ST MONTH $38.65
In San Diego MTS pay training / starts @ $22.71 & tops @ 5 1/2 years @ $33.79. With pay increments every year on July 1st.
SFMTA IN CALIFORNIA PAY $27 AS TRAINEE THEN MOVE UP TO 31ST MONTH $38.65
That $81, 734.40 is before taxes, and I understand California's tax rate is very high. I'm sure, those folks earn every penny. Thanks for being out there for the community.
No problem!! Also they more than likely earn more with overtime!
@@BusDriverLife Another benefit of government employment is a defined pension plan. Most private employers have eliminated those in favor of employee-funded 401k plans.
35% TAX EVERY PAYCHECK
Keywan, why doesn't any transit agency consider building a large condo or high-end apartment complex for its drivers, build a daycare and grocery store on the ground floor and then put the bus garage in the basement. The rent money would come back!
That would be really nice if done right!
That's an awesome idea! However, American society is to selfish for that to even work. A couple of our drivers became a couple and became the Brady Bunch just to make ends meet.
I wish VTA would do that. We have a bunch of operators who live a long way from their work because the cost of living is so high. I drive 45 miles each way a day. There's operators who drive close to 100 miles each way. VTA used to allow operators to camp at the Cerone yard, I've slept overnight at my yard.
SO, so glad I am old, retired and collecting a great pension! My caution to someone like I used to be, applying for every job that looked better than the one I had: there is way more than wages & benefits. How will your commute be at the new place? As Kewan pointed out, cost of living may more than offset a raise. Moving costs. Loss of your Seniority, so you may get the "worst routes" for the first several years. How is bus maintenance? (Driver comfort may a very low priority!) Be wise.
All great points!!
they get paid but their jobs can cost their lives
I’m in training right now for LA Metro. Funny enough they basically did say just shut up and drive the bus.
Makes sense especially with some of the people that ride LA Metro..
Hey boss man just came across ur comment and was wondering whats after the phone call interview cuz i have mine next week and idk what to expect 😅?
How was the hiring and training process I’m looking to put my application in this weekend. A mentor of mine recommended it. Already have my class a. Over the road wasn’t working I’m looking for something local, long-term and able to grow.
I do have thought of become an metro bus driver but my math and english skills arent good.. maybe i wouldnt able to pass it at least i can give an try also i am worried what if dont pass the metro exam
LA metro still runs the old nabi buses
We only get paid $30/hr in Phoenix after $5 years
You should do one for SamTrans, AC Transit, and San Francisco Bay Area Transit
I will. I plan to do a lot more of these!
@@BusDriverLife Thanks.
SFMTA IN CALIFORNIA PAY $27 AS TRAINEE THEN MOVE UP TO 31ST MONTH $38.65
@@teampolysoftballso the 31st day you make $38? If so that’s great!
New york city transit starts about $25 dollars a hour and tops off at about $36 dollars a hour.
SFMTA IN CALIFORNIA PAY $27 AS TRAINEE THEN MOVE UP TO 31ST MONTH $38.65
1:23 They tell that to bus drivers here in New Orleans too. 😂😂
My transit company is great. Very small. Pay is pretty decent for the area. No complaints.
Just saw an ad $30/hr in Dallas. Sounds tempting to move.
Texas is nice!
Same here, coming from Florida. Bus operators don't get paid as much there, depending on the agency.
SFMTA IN CALIFORNIA PAY $27 AS TRAINEE THEN MOVE UP TO 31ST MONTH $38.65
It took me that long at VTA to reach that lol and I reached top pay at 4 years.
To be clear, is the top rate ($42.57) guaranteed after 5 years?
Wait a minute 23 an hour in Sacramento is Sacramento cheap living down there or something because that's pretty low for bus driver in LA
What kind of questions do they ask in the interview for metro
Inquiring minds want to know too
Idk about the hiring events, but my phone interview was very structured. The questions were read to me and they were things like, “If you see a coworker stealing what do you do?” Whatever sounds like something you’d read in an employee handbook is the right answe.
That pay is sad. Here in Texas it's 20 an hour. CA. The cost of living is sky high. for a single female alone.
You could be "that guy" and request pay for all employees through the freedom of information, someone did that to us and published then for all to see
Dude, I just checked because I imagined somebody already did publish it, and I was right. Top paid LA County Metro bus operator made $142k last year ($116k regular pay, $19.3k overtime, and $6.6k other pay.)
$42, with benefits at guaranteed 40 hr per week? Now that is starting to be livable in today's economy. Many transit systems here in the Toronto area are getting to about $38/hr, and we have high cost of living with housing being an issue. But that is still good pay. Although if you have to work 5 years to get it in LA, here it starts day 1 at the higher rate when you go regular full time. Cost of living is what it is, if you move to a cheaper area, the problem is the jobs pay so little for so many people, it isn't like the living standards are better. But when you live in a high cost of living area, it takes a lot of your income away. Thanks for showing how the economy is all a scam no matter where you are. ;) Good stuff tho!
Exposure to physical and verbal abuse by clients and customers. That's very true not that long ago a Metro LA bus driver was stabbed by a 17 year old. 😮
My aunt was a bus driver for years she come home with at least a black eye or a busted lip once or twice a week … here in LA
Do bus operators still receive a raise after the top pay is reached?
Once a new contract is approved..yes!
@@BusDriverLife Thanks
London and LA have about the same cost of living, yet London bus drivers get $23.50/hour and LA drivers get $42.57/hr. Also, the double decker buses in London carry around twice as many passengers as the buses used in L.A. How is L.A. able to pay its drivers so much more, for carrying less passengers?
SFMTA IN CALIFORNIA PAY $27 AS TRAINEE THEN MOVE UP TO 31ST MONTH $38.65
Cost of living is insane in NY as well. Most people need six figures to survive here. It makes the bus driver shortage that much more acute. New York & Long Island have been "pricing out" all the blue collar workers causing chaos here. Wall Street loves it of course, but I am hoping for the stock market to crash so these inflated housing prices come down. A lot of people get mad when I say that (because they got rich off of it) but when bus drivers along with many other types of people can't afford to live here (and pay AT LEAST $2500 a month just for an apt) it leads to the collapse of a metropolitan area. Something has to give. The bus driver shortage at MTA is so bad many trips go missing, sometimes people wait nearly an hour for a bus especially in the evening, which is crazy in NYC!
Similar situation out here! I know it’s really crazy in NYC! People used to line up for jobs like the MTA. I know of people who would relocate back in the day to work there.
@@BusDriverLife Yeah New York & California have a lot in common, unfortunately
Capitalism at its finest. I know a lot of people don't want to hear this, but its true. If you live in a cheaper market, wages are so much lower you can't afford things. If you move to an expensive market, the top of the top is pricing housing out of the reach of people who do real work for a living, making life less than optimal. We need change.
SFMTA IN CALIFORNIA PAY $27 AS TRAINEE THEN MOVE UP TO 31ST MONTH $38.65
BloomingTransit(Bloomington, IN) Just last year, starting pay (after training) jumped up to $19.02/hr. When I started 4 years ago, starting pay after training was $15.65/hr. We did get the small increase to go with the wage increase to keep everything "fare". However, drivers max out at something like $28.00/hr after 15 years I think. Cost of living is high here to, because of the proximity to Indiana University.
Closer to $8,090 per month with the typical 5 hours overtime per week. So about $105,000 per year.
Oh I understand that they make more with overtime! I’m not really including that or taking taxes out..those variables can be difficult to calculate because it can be different for everyone. Just trying to give people a general idea before overtime what drivers can possibly make.
Lived in LA from '86 - '90 and I thought it was becoming a 3rd world 💩hole even then.
You could never pay me enough to even visit LA again.
Physical and verbal abuse for $23 an hour seems like quite the deal.
For some. 23 ph is not enough considering you have to hold cdl and pass a drug test. For me even 27.87 isn't enough when you factor in other motorist drive like idiots. It takes a certain person to drive a bus. I'm not really a people person but I play an actor when at work. I pretend to care. My rant list can go on.
Some of the smaller transit agencies operators I've spoken to said, they're just fine where they're at. It's not worth getting cut, shot, and stabbed, for just a couple of dollars more to work for a larger transit agency that pays more who needs it.
Most altercations happen because of ppl arguing over bus fare.
@@Matthew-uq4hu that why I never gave two shits about the fare. If they paid they paid. If not then I’m not chasing them down. I don’t get commission based on fairs paid.
@@RenoBusdriver truthfully if you aren’t tied down, look at the major ski towns in the Rockies. They pay very well and often have housing options bc even tho they pay very well they still can’t afford market rate for real estate. Thus they rent housing at great discount. Cake job.
Do you have to have a high school diploma to become a bus driver?
Yes
Most LACMTA operators work 50-60 hours a week
I figured! In the video I was just using the typical 40hr work week as a template to keep it simple.
What are some reasons for the driver shortage?
High turnover because the job sucks, especially for new hires.
The schedules suck for family life.
Being verbally abused sucks.
It’s a highly stressful job.
It usually gets easier the longer with the company because you can pick better routes with longer breaks and better passengers.
I may do a video on this..but you got a great answer from Lucky Charms!
Honestly it a lot of variables, but the number one reason talking to coworkers who have quit. We work 6 days a week long 12 hours or sometimes 15 hours depending on if you are a regular. So you only get one day off so no quality of life. Also our attendance policy is very strict. It takes 60 working days to get a sick off your record and if you miss a day the time restarts. And as a result of that people are fired
@@tiguere8292 how much does one earn before taxes for working that many hours? In my area, the company trains you for your CDL license and I gues that if the bus thing doesnt work out the experience of driving plus the license will look good for another CDL job. Peace.
@@mjp-bi3re 6 to 7 thousand for operators at top pay. 4 to 5 for mid tier operator
LA resident and Metro fan here, can confirm that LA has people who will verbally and physically abuse people riding the bus, including the bus driver ): still think the bus is a good option though. Proud of the system.
Holy shit $42.57 after 5 years! Is that for working a night shift?
Your math is incorrect. There is 52 weeks in a year so you would multiple $42.57 × 40 which equals $1,702.80 then multiple $1702.80 × 52 which equals $88,545.60.
Let me know when you learned about taxes in middle school
Going full time that’s signing your life away to the company 😅
Yeah it’d be better if we wouldn’t have 3 hour splits
40 hrs ? I can confirm this not true. I’d be getting 70 to almost 80 hrs a week . Making time take home 6 digit figure
We get assaulted the most
I remember when they made $10 dollars
Starting pay for LA is not high enough.
I believe that!
You forgot the tax my boy . Out of that 7k you walk away with 4200
I didn’t really forget..I’m just not going to subtract taxes on these videos. Trying to keep it simple…but you are absolutely correct!! Taxes will definitely take a nice chunk of money away!
Yeah bro it’s ridiculous. I’m a science teacher in La making 68k-72k depends on bonus . And I’m only seeing like 4500 a month
Hi broo
I'm a bus driver in EU
Please help me to become a bus driver over there 🙏
I can’t personally help you to become a bus driver but I can definitely try my best to answer your questions.
@@BusDriverLife yes of course , I mean advices ,
Thank you so much
@@UA-camr-bj2lb So it depends on what state you plan on moving to first. Then get your regular class C drivers license for normal automobiles. Figure out what bus company you want to apply at. Apply! Most places are hiring in the US. Most companies will help you to get your class B commercial license and everything else you need through the training process.