Career comparison
Delivery Driver vs. School Bus Driver
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
School bus drivers earn more at the median ($47,920 vs. $44,860), while delivery drivers usually get to work faster (1–2 weeks of training). Delivery drivers deliver packages and goods to homes and businesses on a daily route. School bus drivers get students to school and home safely every day.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Delivery Driver | School Bus Driver | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $44,860 ($21.57/hr) | $47,920 ($23.04/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $30,800 – $80,310 | $29,240 – $65,730 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.3% (faster than average) | +0.7% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 107,200 | 56,500 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 1–2 weeks | 3–8 weeks |
| Key credential | Valid driver’s license | CDL Class B or C |
| Work setting | Drivers spend most of the day in vans or small trucks, stepping in and out at every stop. | Drivers work in large buses on city, suburban and rural roads in all weather. |
What each job does
Delivery Driver
- Load and organize the vehicle by stop order
- Follow routes using navigation and route apps
- Scan, deliver and document packages
- Collect signatures and handle pickups and returns
- Inspect the vehicle before and after each shift
School Bus Driver
- Inspect the bus before and after each route
- Drive assigned routes on schedule
- Load and unload students safely at stops
- Follow railroad crossing and danger zone procedures
- Manage student behavior and report incidents
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working independently, working outdoors, steady routines, and in-demand. Both are part of the transportation & logistics field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose delivery driver if…
- I like driving and being on the move
- I enjoy working on my own
- I can lift packages all day
Choose school bus driver if…
- I like working with kids
- I can stay calm with noise and distractions
- I’m a careful, defensive driver
Still torn? Take the Delivery Driver fit quiz and the School Bus Driver fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, delivery driver or school bus driver?
School Bus Drivers earn more at the median: $47,920 versus $44,860 for delivery drivers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Delivery Drivers typically train faster (1–2 weeks) than school bus drivers (3–8 weeks).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects delivery drivers to grow +6.3% from 2025–35, compared with +0.7% for school bus drivers.