Jobs Similar to Bus Drivers (Transit and Intercity)
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to bus drivers (transit and intercity), according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Subway and Streetcar Operators, Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs and Bus Drivers (School).
Bus Drivers (Transit and Intercity): $59,050 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Bus Drivers (Transit and Intercity)) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Subway and Streetcar Operators | 83% | $86,380+46% | High school |
| 2 | Shuttle Drivers and ChauffeursSame group | 82% | $37,290−37% | High school |
| 3 | Bus Drivers, SchoolSame group | 80% | $47,920−19% | High school |
| 4 | Couriers and Messengers | 78% | $39,200−34% | High school |
| 5 | Parking Attendants | 78% | $35,150−40% | High school |
| 6 | Baggage Porters and Bellhops | 77% | $37,080−37% | High school |
| 7 | Light Truck DriversSame group | 77% | $44,860−24% | High school |
| 8 | Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | 75% | $68,840+17% | High school |
| 9 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversSame group | 75% | $58,640−1% | High school |
| 10 | Aircraft Service Attendants | 74% | $40,450−31% | High school |
| 11 | Commercial Pilots | 73% | $123,220+109% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Locomotive Engineers | 73% | $81,410+38% | High school |
| 13 | Motorboat Operators | 73% | $47,520−20% | High school |
| 14 | Bridge and Lock Tenders | 72% | $57,700−2% | High school |
| 15 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 72% | $232,140+293% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical TechniciansSame group | 72% | $35,450−40% | High school |
| 17 | Driver/Sales WorkersSame group | 72% | $38,770−34% | High school |
| 18 | Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | 71% | $92,460+57% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Meter Readers, Utilities | 71% | $48,150−18% | High school |
| 20 | Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | 71% | $78,000+32% | High school |
- 1Subway and Streetcar Operators
83% similar · $86,380 (+46%) · High school
- 2Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs
82% similar · $37,290 (−37%) · High school · Same group
- 3Bus Drivers, School
80% similar · $47,920 (−19%) · High school · Same group
- 4Couriers and Messengers
78% similar · $39,200 (−34%) · High school
- 5Parking Attendants
78% similar · $35,150 (−40%) · High school
- 6Baggage Porters and Bellhops
77% similar · $37,080 (−37%) · High school
- 7Light Truck Drivers
77% similar · $44,860 (−24%) · High school · Same group
- 8Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
75% similar · $68,840 (+17%) · High school
- 9Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
75% similar · $58,640 (−1%) · High school · Same group
- 10Aircraft Service Attendants
74% similar · $40,450 (−31%) · High school
- 11Commercial Pilots
73% similar · $123,220 (+109%) · Training or associate
- 12Locomotive Engineers
73% similar · $81,410 (+38%) · High school
- 13Motorboat Operators
73% similar · $47,520 (−20%) · High school
- 14Bridge and Lock Tenders
72% similar · $57,700 (−2%) · High school
- 15Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
72% similar · $232,140 (+293%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
72% similar · $35,450 (−40%) · High school · Same group
- 17Driver/Sales Workers
72% similar · $38,770 (−34%) · High school · Same group
- 18Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
71% similar · $92,460 (+57%) · Training or associate
- 19Meter Readers, Utilities
71% similar · $48,150 (−18%) · High school
- 20Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
71% similar · $78,000 (+32%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than bus drivers (transit and intercity).
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for bus drivers (transit and intercity) also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where bus drivers (transit and intercity) is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Parking Attendants (85)
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops (81)
- Passenger Attendants (80)
- Subway and Streetcar Operators (80)
- Couriers and Messengers (78)
- School Bus Monitors (77)
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers (73)
- Bridge and Lock Tenders (72)
- Transportation Security Screeners (72)
- Crossing Guards and Flaggers (71)
Questions about jobs like bus drivers (transit and intercity)
What jobs are most similar to bus drivers (transit and intercity)?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Subway and Streetcar Operators (83% similar), Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs (82% similar), Bus Drivers (School) (80% similar), Couriers and Messengers (78% similar) and Parking Attendants (78% similar).
Which jobs like bus drivers (transit and intercity) pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($232,140, +293%; usually a bachelor's degree), Commercial Pilots ($123,220, +109%; usually training or an associate degree) and Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels ($92,460, +57%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with bus drivers (transit and intercity) ($59,050). Without more preparation than bus drivers (transit and intercity) usually need: Subway and Streetcar Operators, Locomotive Engineers and Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.