Last updated Oct 30, 2026 · Sources: Live 5 News (third-party news), BLS OEWS May 2025

Charleston County School District school bus driver pay

Charleston County School District pays school bus drivers $23.00–$34.73/hr for 2026-27 (source: Live 5 News (third-party news); updated Oct 30, 2026).

Charleston County, South Carolina. Everything below comes from the linked source, checked 2026-10-30. A blank means the source doesn't say.

Starting pay

$23.00/hr

2026-27

Top of scale

$34.73/hr

Sign-on bonus

not stated

Paid CDL training

not stated

Details

Employer type	District
Area	Charleston County
Pay year	2026-27
Guaranteed hours	not stated
Hours / days	not stated
Summer pay	not stated
Training payback	not stated
Notes	Figures quoted by a district official in Aug 2026 news; top rate after 7 years.

Sources

Live 5 News (third-party news) · checked 2026-10-30

How it compares

The starting rate is $3.82 above the South Carolina median for school bus drivers ($19.18/hr, BLS OEWS May 2025) and $0.66 above the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro median ($22.34/hr). The BLS median covers drivers at every experience level, so a new driver's rate is often below it.

Charleston County employer	Start $/hr	Top $/hr	Sign-on bonus
Charleston County School District (this page)	$23.00	$34.73	not stated
First Student — Charleston area (N. Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Johns Island)	$22.75	$33.08	$500 permit (CLP) bonus within 7 days; $200 within 14

Charleston County comparison · South Carolina school bus driver pay by district · Paid CDL training list · Split-shift calculator

Get an email when Charleston County Schools pay changes

We recheck every district's pay source regularly. Sign up and you'll hear about new pay scales, raises and bonuses in The Bus Lot Weekly. Free, unsubscribe anytime.

What's it really like driving for Charleston County Schools?

Be the first to share. No reviews yet for this district.

Share your experience (anonymous)

Frequently asked questions

How much does Charleston County School District pay school bus drivers?

Starting pay is $23.00/hr and the schedule tops out at $34.73/hr (2026-27), per Live 5 News (third-party news).

How does Charleston County School District compare with nearby districts?

It ranks #1 of 2 for starting pay among the employers we list in Charleston County, the highest we list there. Pay years differ, so check each source.