Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Bus Drivers, School's pay go, state by state?
A Bus Drivers, School's pay leaves the most room in North Dakota — about $3,712/mo take-home against $911/mo typical rent — and the least in Alabama.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $3,712/mo | $911/mo | 25% |
| Rhode Island | $3,598/mo | $1,289/mo | 36% |
| Washington | $3,757/mo | $1,641/mo | 44% |
| Iowa | $3,045/mo | $932/mo | 31% |
| Wisconsin | $3,123/mo | $1,033/mo | 33% |
| Massachusetts | $3,804/mo | $1,716/mo | 45% |
| Nebraska | $3,030/mo | $1,017/mo | 34% |
| Maine | $3,093/mo | $1,104/mo | 36% |
| Ohio | $2,967/mo | $986/mo | 33% |
| Vermont | $3,176/mo | $1,207/mo | 38% |
| Indiana | $2,942/mo | $1,022/mo | 35% |
| Illinois | $3,153/mo | $1,246/mo | 40% |
| Minnesota | $3,134/mo | $1,230/mo | 39% |
| New York | $3,511/mo | $1,621/mo | 46% |
| Alaska | $3,212/mo | $1,361/mo | 42% |
| New Jersey | $3,507/mo | $1,656/mo | 47% |
| Michigan | $2,920/mo | $1,072/mo | 37% |
| Kansas | $2,850/mo | $1,025/mo | 36% |
| Utah | $3,215/mo | $1,396/mo | 43% |
| Hawaii | $3,691/mo | $1,927/mo | 52% |
| Arkansas | $2,649/mo | $903/mo | 34% |
| Wyoming | $2,686/mo | $979/mo | 36% |
| New Hampshire | $3,112/mo | $1,424/mo | 46% |
| Oregon | $3,099/mo | $1,431/mo | 46% |
| Kentucky | $2,563/mo | $918/mo | 36% |
| California | $3,600/mo | $1,969/mo | 55% |
| Montana | $2,630/mo | $1,031/mo | 39% |
| Missouri | $2,578/mo | $997/mo | 39% |
| South Dakota | $2,472/mo | $910/mo | 37% |
| Delaware | $2,877/mo | $1,321/mo | 46% |
| New Mexico | $2,586/mo | $1,034/mo | 40% |
| Connecticut | $3,023/mo | $1,483/mo | 49% |
| Pennsylvania | $2,707/mo | $1,176/mo | 43% |
| Maryland | $3,180/mo | $1,683/mo | 53% |
| Texas | $2,794/mo | $1,328/mo | 48% |
| Virginia | $3,011/mo | $1,547/mo | 51% |
| Colorado | $3,097/mo | $1,659/mo | 54% |
| Tennessee | $2,544/mo | $1,111/mo | 44% |
| Georgia | $2,664/mo | $1,320/mo | 50% |
| Idaho | $2,461/mo | $1,163/mo | 47% |
| Oklahoma | $2,198/mo | $970/mo | 44% |
| Louisiana | $2,244/mo | $1,028/mo | 46% |
| South Carolina | $2,334/mo | $1,131/mo | 48% |
| District of Columbia | $3,098/mo | $1,900/mo | 61% |
| Arizona | $2,616/mo | $1,419/mo | 54% |
| North Carolina | $2,278/mo | $1,147/mo | 50% |
| Mississippi | $2,028/mo | $933/mo | 46% |
| West Virginia | $1,888/mo | $848/mo | 45% |
| Florida | $2,415/mo | $1,542/mo | 64% |
| Nevada | $2,267/mo | $1,478/mo | 65% |
| Alabama | $1,145/mo | $967/mo | 84% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.