Last updated · Sources: 2026-27 Student Transportation Specialist (bus) salary schedule, WIS-TV (third-party news), BLS OEWS May 2025
Richland School District Two school bus driver pay
Richland School District Two pays school bus drivers $21.02–$31.47/hr for 2026-27 (source: 2026-27 Student Transportation Specialist (bus) salary schedule; updated Oct 30, 2026).
Richland County (Columbia NE), South Carolina. Everything below comes from the linked sources, checked 2026-10-30. A blank means the source doesn't say.
Starting pay
2026-27
Top of scale
Sign-on bonus
Paid CDL training
Details
| Employer type | District |
|---|---|
| Area | Richland County (Columbia NE) |
| Pay year | 2026-27 |
| Guaranteed hours | not stated |
| Hours / days | 183 days, 7 hours a day |
| Summer pay | not stated |
| Training payback | not stated |
| Notes | Title is Student Transportation Specialist. Activity runs pay $25.00/hr and up. Steps 0–27; a step needs 152 days worked. |
Sources
- 2026-27 Student Transportation Specialist (bus) salary schedule · checked 2026-10-30
- WIS-TV (third-party news) · checked 2026-10-30
How it compares
The starting rate is $1.84 above the South Carolina median for school bus drivers ($19.18/hr, BLS OEWS May 2025) and $3.25 above the Columbia, SC metro median ($17.77/hr). The BLS median covers drivers at every experience level, so a new driver's rate is often below it.
| Richland County employer | Start $/hr | Top $/hr | Sign-on bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richland School District Two (this page) | $21.02 | $31.47 | $1,500 sign-on |
| Lexington-Richland School District Five | $18.22 | $28.19 | not stated |
| Richland School District One | not published | not published | Up to $2,000 sign-on |
Richland County comparison · South Carolina school bus driver pay by district · Paid CDL training list · Split-shift calculator
Frequently asked questions
How much does Richland School District Two pay school bus drivers?
Starting pay is $21.02/hr and the schedule tops out at $31.47/hr (2026-27), per 2026-27 Student Transportation Specialist (bus) salary schedule. 183 days, 7 hours a day.
Does Richland School District Two offer a sign-on bonus for bus drivers?
Yes: $1,500 sign-on. Details and conditions are in the linked source (2026-27 Student Transportation Specialist (bus) salary schedule, WIS-TV (third-party news)).
How does Richland School District Two compare with nearby districts?
It ranks #1 of 2 for starting pay among the employers we list in Richland County, the highest we list there. Pay years differ, so check each source.
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