Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity

High Risk
Low High

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Occupation snapshot

What does this snowflake show?
The Snowflake is a visual summary of the five badges: Automation Risk (calculated), Risk (polled), Growth, Wages and Volume. It gives you an instant snapshot of an occupations profile. The colour of the Snowflake relates to its size. The better the occupation scores in relation to others, the larger and greener the Snowflake becomes.
JOB SCORE
4.0/10
What's this?
Job Score (higher is better):

We rate jobs using four factors. These are:

- Chance of being automated
- Job growth
- Wages
- Volume of available positions

These are some key things to think about when job hunting.

Risk & user votes

Calculated automation risk

68% (High Risk)

High Risk (61-80%): This occupation shows a significant risk of end-to-end replacement by automation. Many core parts of the role may be structured, repeatable, software-driven, or physically predictable enough for AI, machines, or robotic systems to take over. If you work in this area, it may be worth exploring safer related careers or moving towards more human-centred responsibilities.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

Human strengths important in this job

These are human abilities and work contexts that are important in this occupation. They may help explain why parts of the role are harder to replace end-to-end, but they are not the only inputs into the automation score.

Working directly with the public

Very important
Why this matters
The job involves face-to-face interaction with customers, clients, or guests—answering questions, handling requests, and managing service situations in real time. Roles with frequent public interaction are harder to replace end-to-end because they rely on trust, communication, and adapting to unpredictable human needs.
Jobs that also use this strength

Assisting and caring for others

Quite important
Why this matters
Provide hands-on help, emotional support, or personal care to people—work that depends on empathy, trust, and responding to individual needs in the moment.
Jobs that also use this strength

Decision-making and problem solving

Quite important
Why this matters
Analyze information, weigh tradeoffs, and choose the best solution—especially when situations are ambiguous, high-stakes, or have real-world consequences.
Jobs that also use this strength

What users think

Based on 137 votes

59% chance of full automation within the next two decades

Our visitors have voted they are unsure if this occupation will be automated. However, the automation risk level we have generated suggests a much higher chance of automation: 68% chance of automation.

What do you think the risk of automation is?

What is the likelihood that Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?

Sentiment

Based on user votes over time

View sentiment trend

How opinions have changed over time

Pay & outlook

Wages

Moderately paid relative to other professions

In 2024, the median annual wage for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity was $57,440 ($28 per hour).

The median annual wage for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity was 16.0% higher than the national median annual wage, which stood at $49,500.

View wage trend

Wages over time

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Growth

Fast growth relative to other professions

The number of 'Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity' job openings is expected to rise 4.3% by 2034

View employment trend

Total employment, and estimated job openings

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period between 2023 and 2033
Updated projections are due 09-2025.

Volume

Greater range of job opportunities compared to other professions

As of 2024 there were 148,980 people employed as 'Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity' within the United States.

This represents around 0.10% of the employed workforce across the country

Put another way, around 1 in 1 thousand people are employed as 'Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity'.

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What people are saying (5)

Leave a comment
henry (No chance)
04 Feb 2026 04:11
a bus driver is a driver, a customer facing, customer service agent, the responsible person on the vehicle and absolutely needs to make human decisions many times a day, every day. automating bus drivering is very different to automating a bus
Anonimo (Highly likely)
04 Nov 2025 17:08
"They're almost doing it."
ad (Moderate)
25 Apr 2025 10:29
The risk for intercity and long distance bus drivers is higher, as they are travelling through areas with little to no traffic. The risk is slightly lower for Urban bus drivers as urban enviroments are much more complex, and they are more likley to service vurnable and older demographics who might need more help and/or are uncomfortable travelling without a driver on board.
Steven Latta (Moderate)
08 May 2023 15:50
Estimates for the arrival of self-driving Cars keep going up and then down.
Also, Winter Driving is still unknown.
The Value and respect of Human labour keeps going down and the Cost of Converting
will be High. Purpose-built Vehicles will need to be built, then they will slowly replace
the existing fleets. Busses last 20 to 30 years.
karan (Low)
29 Oct 2021 02:45
Government regulations surrounding vehicle and aircraft operations are unlikely to change in foreseeable future.
Leave a reply about this occupation
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Job description

Drive bus or motor coach, including regular route operations, charters, and private carriage. May assist passengers with baggage. May collect fares or tickets.

O*NET-SOC code: 53-3052.00