Career comparison
Taxi Driver vs. Transit Bus Driver
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Transit bus drivers earn more at the median ($59,050 vs. $42,100), while taxi drivers usually get to work faster (A few days of training). Taxi drivers drive passengers where they need to go by taxi or rideshare. Transit bus drivers drive city and intercity buses that get people to work, school and home.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Taxi Driver | Transit Bus Driver | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $42,100 ($20.24/hr) | $59,050 ($28.39/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $34,650 – $75,800 | $40,030 – $84,700 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +11.5% (much faster than average) | +4.1% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 20,400 | 21,100 |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | A few days | 6–10 weeks |
| Key credential | Taxi or for-hire license | CDL Class B |
| Work setting | Drivers work in their vehicles across cities and towns.. | Operators drive in city traffic, on highways and in all weather. |
What each job does
Taxi Driver
- Pick up passengers
- Choose routes
- Collect fares
- Help with luggage
- Keep vehicles clean
Transit Bus Driver
- Inspect the bus before service
- Drive routes safely and on schedule
- Board and alight passengers at stops
- Collect fares and monitor fare equipment
- Deploy ramps and secure wheelchairs
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working independently and working with people. Both are part of the transportation & logistics field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose taxi driver if…
- I like driving
- I want flexible hours
- I like meeting people
Choose transit bus driver if…
- I like helping people get where they need to go
- I stay calm with difficult people
- I’m a careful driver
Still torn? Take the Taxi Driver fit quiz and the Transit Bus Driver fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, taxi driver or transit bus driver?
Transit Bus Drivers earn more at the median: $59,050 versus $42,100 for taxi drivers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Taxi Drivers typically train faster (A few days) than transit bus drivers (6–10 weeks).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects taxi drivers to grow +11.5% from 2025–35, compared with +4.1% for transit bus drivers.