School Bus Driver Jobs in Washington
School Bus Driver jobs in Washington are concentrated in Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane, where large public school districts and private transportation contractors maintain year-round hiring across urban, suburban, and rural routes. Seattle Public Schools, First Student, and Durham School Services are among the most established employers in the state, regularly filling positions for special education transport, activity routes, and regular-route drivers. Demand holds steady across experience levels, from candidates completing their first commercial driver training to seasoned drivers with years of safe operation behind them. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 19+ School Bus Driver jobs




$2,000 HIRING INCENTIVE
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES, AND HOLIDAYS AND SUMMERS OFF!
REGULAR AND ON-CALL POSITIONS AVAILABLE
DRIVING ABSTRACT REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION
SALARY: $29.48 (SUB RATE)
- Competitive pay and any hiring incentives (e.g., $2,000 hiring bonus)
- Flexible schedules
- Holidays and summers off
- Paid training and CDL support
- Part-time hours that work well for retirees, parents, or second-job seekers
Please apply on the weblink listed below.
https://www.applitrack.com/whiteriver/onlineapp/
If you need assistance filling out an application online, please call 360-829-3823.
JOB SUMMARY: The job of a Bus Driver is to provide support within the student transportation services area with specific responsibilities for transporting students over scheduled routes and/or special excursions; ensuring vehicle operation is in a safe operating condition; and ensuring the safety of students during transport, loading, and unloading from buses.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Must have 5 years’ experience driving a passenger vehicle and must possess: a high school diploma or GED Certificate; valid Washington State driver’s license; Commercial Driver’s License and Washington State School Bus Authorization (training available from the district); obtain and continue to retain a Medical Examiner's Certificate by completing a DOT physical examination initially and renew as required. The candidate’s Washington State School Bus Driver Authorization must be on file before the first day of driving, and his/her driving record (all jurisdictions) must be clear of suspended or revoked license within the last three years and clear of DUI or negligent driving for the last five years. All candidates accepted as trainees must submit to, and satisfactorily pass, a federally mandated pre-employment drug test and are subject to random drug testing during employment. Complete Washington State Patrol and FBI investigation.
Meet all continuing requirements for holding a School Bus Driver Authorization, including a review of the 5-year abstract of your driver record.
DISQUALIFYING CONDITIONS:
- Have your driving privileges revoked or suspended as a result of a moving violation or having your commercial driver's license disqualified, suspended, or revoked within the preceding 5 years.
- Having 3 or more speeding tickets or other serious motor vehicle violations, including any alcohol-related offenses within the preceding 5 years.
- Having refused a drug or alcohol test or had a positive drug or alcohol test.
- There are many other disqualifying conditions listed in WAC 392-144-103, primarily dealing with the convictions for various crimes.
CERTIFICATION: Current Standard First Aid certification by an approved provider is required at the time of hire and is responsible for keeping current during employment.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES (may oversee, perform, and/or assist with):
- Observes and obeys state, local, OSPI, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and school district laws and regulations, rules, policies, and procedures related to safe driving and safe pupil transportation; conducts bus fire drills and emergency evacuation drills for student safety.
- Must be physically able to maneuver and control a school bus under all driving conditions, and use all hand or foot-operated controls and equipment.
- Performs pre-trip and post-trip safety inspections of an assigned bus; checks oil, water, fuel, and other fluid levels; checks lights, buzzers, tires, belts, brakes, and other safety equipment; takes corrective action as appropriate to ensure a safe bus operation; reports needs for bus maintenance or repair as necessary.
- Perform necessary roadside emergency services.
- Transport pupils (including students with special needs) to and from school on assigned vehicles and routes and assist students in loading and unloading the school bus as needed.
Maintains effective communication with students, parents, school staff and administrators, dispatchers, mechanics, other drivers, and the public for safety and community relations. Promotes a positive environment for student learning.
- Operate radio communications equipment; when required, install safety and restraining devices to secure pupils and/or their wheelchairs and operate vehicle wheelchair lifts.
- Maintain vehicle interior and exterior cleanliness and re-fuel before reaching the one-half tank.
- Hold and maintain all required licenses and certificates (WA State CDL, First aid card, DOT Commercial Driver Fitness Determination medical certificate, WA State School Bus Driver’s Authorization).
- Possesses knowledge of and adheres to governing policies and District regulations and procedures.
- Attend and complete all training courses as required by the Superintendent of Public Instruction and/or the school district.
- Supervises and corrects student behavior in and around school bus for student safety; models safe and appropriate behavior; maintains student discipline on the bus; instructs students in safe and responsible behavior on the bus.
- Accurately and legibly complete forms, records, time sheets, time off requests, daily vehicle/mileage logs, trip tickets, accident and incident reports, and other documentation or reports as required.
- Prepare work orders on the mechanical needs or problems of the bus or its operating system, and utilize computer software to enter work orders.
- Report to work on time and maintain good attendance.
- Complete annual school bus driver in-service training.
- Check emails and driver/aide boxes on workdays to obtain pertinent communication.
- May serve on various district committees and/or departmental work teams. Models appropriate and cooperative behavior, including protecting confidential information, consistent with district ethical guidelines.
WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Requires substantial concentration in various traffic and road conditions to remain alert and responsive despite student distractions; requires decisiveness and good judgment in emergencies; may occasionally deal with distraught or difficult individuals. Steering, clutching, and braking a school bus requires strong physical condition; prolonged sitting; exposure to high noise levels from engines and students; exposure to road and traffic hazards; required to service buses and drive in inclement weather. Passage of a pre-employment physical/testing is required for this position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions; moving mechanical parts; fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. Continual sitting, reaching, and repetitive hand and arm motions. The employee must talk and hear; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms. Frequent walking, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, and pulling. Moderate lifting and/or carrying up to 50 lbs or more. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus during the hours of daylight and darkness. Bus driving positions are generally part-time with varying hours according to pupil transportation requirements and often require split shifts.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge: of the district, Board of Education, OSPI, state, and federal laws, policies, procedures, and activities pertinent to the duties of this position. Knowledge of vehicle operations, basic maintenance requirements, driving codes, and two-way radios.
Skills: oral and written communication skills, to navigate computers, pertinent software, and email applications.
Skills to operate wheelchair lifts, ramps, and securement locks. Skills for working with school-age children in difficult circumstances. Communicate effectively with individuals from varied educational and cultural backgrounds, evaluate schedules, and meet deadlines.
Ability: to sit for prolonged periods, understand and carry out oral and written instructions, work independently, make common sense decisions in potentially critical situations, understand and address students with special needs, and establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, parents, and /or district personnel. Ability to display courtesy, tact, and respect when dealing with students and adults. Ability to assist students with patience and understanding. Ability to use independent judgment and demonstrate initiative without being asked. Ability to adapt to a variety of working situations and learn new skills. Ability to follow directions yet exercise independent and appropriate judgment.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: $29.48 per hour
Work Location: In person
See All 19 School Bus Driver Jobs in Washington
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Find School Bus Driver JobsSchool Bus Driver Jobs by City in Washington
Where Washington roles are concentrated, by current openings.
School Bus Driver Job Market in Washington
A snapshot from current Washington openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Washington Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in school bus driver jobs across Washington.
- Valid Washington State commercial driver's license with school bus and passenger endorsements
- Current school bus driver authorization certificate issued by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Clean driving record with no disqualifying violations under Washington State law
- Ability to pass a Washington State Patrol criminal background check and fingerprinting
- Current first aid and CPR certification recognized by the Washington Department of Health
- High school diploma or GED equivalent accepted by Washington school district employers
School Bus Driver Jobs in Washington: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a school bus driver in Washington?
To become a school bus driver in Washington, you must obtain a commercial driver's license with passenger and school bus endorsements through the Washington State Department of Licensing, then earn a school bus driver authorization certificate issued by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. The authorization process includes a background check through the Washington State Patrol, first aid certification, and completion of a state-approved pre-service training program typically provided by your hiring district.
Which companies hire school bus drivers in Washington?
Washington school bus driver roles are posted by CHIEF LESCHI SCHOOL, Universal Transportation, and Yakama Nation and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Washington's mix of large urban districts and contracted transportation providers means openings appear regularly across both public school systems and private fleet operators serving school districts statewide.
Which Washington cities have the most school bus driver jobs?
Tacoma, Seattle, and Puyallup have the most school bus driver openings in Washington. Seattle's size and the density of public and charter school enrollment drive the highest volume of postings, while Tacoma and Spokane follow because of their large unified school districts and the regional transportation contractors that hold service agreements with those districts.
Are there remote school bus driver jobs in Washington?
Yes, but they're rare. About 0% of school bus driver openings tied to Washington are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, which reflects the hands-on nature of the work. The limited remote component that does exist tends to involve dispatch coordination, route planning, or administrative fleet support roles attached to larger transportation departments rather than the driving position itself.
How can I get hired as a school bus driver in Washington with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to a Washington public school district, which typically provides paid pre-service training and covers the cost of your commercial driver's license endorsements once you are hired as a trainee. Seattle Public Schools, Spokane Public Schools, and Tacoma Public Schools all run district-sponsored driver training programs for candidates who hold a basic driver's license but have not yet obtained CDL endorsements. Candidates who already work as paraprofessionals, custodians, or nutrition staff within a district often have an easier path into driver openings because they have cleared the required background check process.
Where can I find and apply to school bus driver jobs in Washington?
You can find and apply to school bus driver jobs in Washington on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers hiring in the state right now. Search for roles that match your credentials and experience, then apply directly to the ones that fit. No profile creation is required to view and apply to listings.
See All 19 School Bus Driver Jobs in Washington
Find roles in Washington that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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