Last updated Oct 30, 2026 · Sources: Wake County Public Schools: WCPSS bus driver careers page, BLS OEWS May 2025

Wake County, NC: school bus driver pay side by side

1 employer that hire school bus drivers in Wake County. Click a column to sort. A blank cell means the source doesn't say, and we don't guess.

Employer	Start $/hr	vs county best start	vs BLS metro median	Top $/hr	Sign-on bonus	Paid CDL training	Guaranteed hours	Summer pay	Source / date
Wake County Public Schools District · Wake County (Raleigh)	$20.00	county best	+$1.48	not stated	$1,200 sign-on + up to $4,000/yr attendance & retention bonuses	Yes	not stated Up to 4 hrs AM + 4 hrs PM; must be available 30 hrs/week	not stated	WCPSS bus driver careers page 2026-27 · checked 2026-10-30

Context: the BLS median for school bus drivers in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $18.52/hr (OEWS May 2025, SOC 53-3051). It covers the whole metro, not just this county. BLS source.

Rates come from different school years and postings (see each source), so treat small gaps with care. Third-party figures, such as news reports and salary sites, are labeled in the source name.

See all North Carolina districts ranked: North Carolina school bus driver pay by district.

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Frequently asked questions

How much do school bus drivers make in Wake County, NC?

Starting pay is $20.00 an hour at Wake County Public Schools. The figure links to its source and the date we checked it.

Which Wake County employers pay for CDL training?

Wake County Public Schools says it offers paid CDL training. Check each employer's page for payback terms. See also paid CDL training in SC, NC and GA.

Wake County, NC: school bus driver pay side by side

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Frequently asked questions

How much do school bus drivers make in Wake County, NC?

Which Wake County employers pay for CDL training?

The Bus Lot Weekly