Transit and Intercity Bus Driver Salary Information in Illinois

The average annual salaries for transit and intercity bus drivers in the state of Illinois are shown in Table 1. The comparison of the salary statistics of transit and intercity bus drivers amongst Illinois areas is shown in Table 2. The salary statistics are based on the national compensation survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2022 and published in April 2023 [1].

Table 1 & 2. Annual Salary of Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers in Illinois (2022 Survey)

Percentile bracketAverage annual salary
10th Percentile Wage
$33,880
25th Percentile Wage
$46,400
50th Percentile Wage
$60,520
75th Percentile Wage
$70,390
90th Percentile Wage
$76,400

Table 1 shows the average annual salary for transit and intercity bus drivers in Illinois in 5 percentile scales. The average annual salary for the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) is $76,400. The median (50th percentile) annual salary is $60,520. The average annual salary for the bottom 10 percent is $33,880.

Median salary trend

The table and chart below show the trend of the median salary of transit and intercity bus drivers from 2012 to 2018.

YearMedian SalaryYearly Growth6-Year Growth
2018
$60,520
12.38% 27.10%
2017
$53,030
7.03% -
2016
$49,300
9.63% -
2015
$44,550
-9.11% -
2014
$48,610
6.17% -
2013
$45,610
3.27% -
2012
$44,120
- -

Table 3. Median Annual Salary of Transit and Intercity Bus Drivers in Illinois Cities (2022 Survey)

Table 3 shows the median annual salary of transit and intercity bus drivers in some Illinois cities and metropolitan areas. We note that the median annual salary of transit and intercity bus drivers in state of Illinois ranges from $19,980 to $63,660. The highest paying area for transit and intercity bus drivers in Illinois is Chicago-Joliet-Naperville (IL-IN-WI Area) with a median annual salary of $63,660. The second highest paying city/area in Illinois State is Chicago-Joliet-Naperville (IL Metropolitan Division) (mean annual salary $61,060). The lowest paying area is Carbondale-Marion with a median annual salary of $19,980.

Cities/Areas Median Annual Salary
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville (IL-IN-WI Area)
$63,660
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville (IL Metropolitan Division)
$61,060
Springfield
$51,360
Rockford
$47,740
West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area
$47,470
Champaign-Urbana
$47,300
Peoria
$36,400
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area
$31,250
East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area
$30,960
Kankakee-Bradley
$30,010
South Illinois nonmetropolitan area
$23,290
Carbondale-Marion
$19,980