School districts raise wages but still face chronic bus driver shortage

Across the United States, school districts continue to grapple with a shortage of qualified bus drivers, leaving employment 9.5% below 2019 levels despite a 4.2% rise in inflation-adjusted hourly wages, according to Economic Policy Institute analysis. The role's low pay and split-shift schedule deter workers in favor of higher-paying trucking, delivery, or transit jobs. East Greenbush Central School District in New York experienced missing routes that delayed student pickups and reduced instructional time.

To address the gap, the district held a "bus rodeo" recruitment event, resulting in roughly five to eight new hires, and now pays drivers about $28 per hour with health benefits. Superintendent Kurtis Kotes obtained a commercial driver’s licence to better comprehend the job, while the expiration of federal pandemic-relief funding tightens district budgets further. Officials stress that beyond wages, benefits, extra hours, and a supportive workplace culture are essential to compete for workers.