Best States for School Bus Drivers to Start a Home Business
We ranked all 51 states based on licensing requirements, earning potential, LLC costs, and tax burden. Here are the best (and worst) states for school bus drivers.
0 states don't require a license · National median: N/A · Updated 2025
▲ Top 5 Best States
Full Ranking: All 51 States
| # | State | License | Fee | Median Wage | LLC Cost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | Yes | $35 | $20.96/hr | $50 | 88 |
| 2 | Montana | Yes | $26 | $22.02/hr | $35 | 88 |
| 3 | New Mexico | Yes | $18 | $22.23/hr | $50 | 88 |
| 4 | Virginia | Yes | $23 | $23.36/hr | $100 | 84 |
| 5 | Iowa | Yes | $96 | $21.82/hr | $50 | 83 |
| 6 | Kentucky | Yes | $70 | $19.53/hr | $40 | 83 |
| 7 | Michigan | Yes | $70 | $21.96/hr | $50 | 83 |
| 8 | Missouri | Yes | $86 | $20.92/hr | $50 | 83 |
| 9 | New York | Yes | $50 | $27.17/hr | $200 | 80 |
| 10 | North Dakota | Yes | $31 | $24.24/hr | $135 | 80 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | Yes | $36 | $21.98/hr | $125 | 80 |
| 12 | South Carolina | Yes | $36 | $20.35/hr | $110 | 80 |
| 13 | California | Yes | $98 | $28.02/hr | $70 | 79 |
| 14 | Georgia | Yes | $90 | $18.03/hr | $100 | 79 |
| 15 | Hawaii | Yes | $110 | $24.62/hr | $51 | 79 |
| 16 | Maryland | Yes | $140 | $24.54/hr | $100 | 79 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | Yes | $100 | $22.93/hr | $100 | 79 |
| 18 | Utah | Yes | $148 | $24.65/hr | $54 | 79 |
| 19 | Arkansas | Yes | $92 | $20.20/hr | $50 | 78 |
| 20 | Colorado | Yes | $160 | $23.79/hr | $50 | 78 |
| 21 | Delaware | Yes | $58 | $21.33/hr | $110 | 75 |
| 22 | Florida | Yes | $62 | $18.83/hr | $125 | 75 |
| 23 | Illinois | Yes | $69 | $23.92/hr | $150 | 75 |
| 24 | Kansas | Yes | $60 | $21.50/hr | $165 | 75 |
| 25 | Minnesota | Yes | $55 | $23.84/hr | $155 | 75 |
| 26 | Nebraska | Yes | $52 | $22.75/hr | $110 | 75 |
| 27 | Idaho | Yes | $193 | $20.23/hr | $100 | 74 |
| 28 | Indiana | Yes | $190 | $22.63/hr | $100 | 74 |
| 29 | Ohio | Yes | $211 | $22.55/hr | $99 | 74 |
| 30 | Oregon | Yes | $198 | $25.05/hr | $100 | 74 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | Yes | $123 | $17.99/hr | $100 | 72 |
| 32 | Alaska | Yes | $208 | $23.98/hr | $250 | 70 |
| 33 | Maine | Yes | $164 | $22.78/hr | $175 | 70 |
| 34 | Rhode Island | Yes | $167 | $23.77/hr | $150 | 70 |
| 35 | South Dakota | Yes | $186 | $18.61/hr | $150 | 70 |
| 36 | Tennessee | Yes | $96 | $19.76/hr | $300 | 70 |
| 37 | Texas | Yes | $144 | $20.57/hr | $300 | 70 |
| 38 | Vermont | Yes | $167 | $23.94/hr | $125 | 70 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | Yes | $279 | $22.83/hr | $130 | 70 |
| 40 | Wyoming | Yes | $180 | $22.09/hr | $102 | 70 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | Yes | $275 | $26.18/hr | $99 | 69 |
| 42 | Mississippi | Yes | $106 | $13.92/hr | $50 | 68 |
| 43 | North Carolina | Yes | $137 | $17.61/hr | $125 | 68 |
| 44 | Louisiana | Yes | $191 | $15.40/hr | $100 | 67 |
| 45 | Connecticut | Yes | $224 | $28.53/hr | $120 | 65 |
| 46 | Massachusetts | Yes | $175 | $30.30/hr | $500 | 65 |
| 47 | New Jersey | Yes | $171 | $28.43/hr | $125 | 65 |
| 48 | Washington | Yes | $195 | $28.97/hr | $200 | 65 |
| 49 | West Virginia | Yes | $178 | $14.46/hr | $100 | 59 |
| 50 | Nevada | Yes | $175 | $17.49/hr | $425 | 58 |
| 51 | Alabama | Yes | $117 | $8.47/hr | $200 | 52 |
▼ 5 Most Challenging States
Alabama
Fee: $117$8.47/hr52
Nevada
Fee: $175$17.49/hr58
West Virginia
Fee: $178$14.46/hr59
Washington
Fee: $195$28.97/hr65
New Jersey
Fee: $171$28.43/hr65
How We Scored Each State
Each state starts with a base score of 50, then we add or subtract points based on:
- No license required: +20 points (biggest single factor — lower barriers to entry)
- License fee: −10 for fees over $500, −5 for over $300, +10 for under $50
- Wages above national median: Up to +15 points for states paying 20%+ above national median
- LLC formation cost: +8 for states under $50, −5 for states over $300
- No sales tax on services: +5 points
Data sources: Institute for Justice License to Work 3 (licensing), BLS OEWS May 2024 (wages), state Secretary of State offices (LLC costs). This ranking reflects factors relevant to home-based operators — commercial location costs, local zoning, and cost of living are not included.
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