MTA Bus Operator Salary and Take-Home Pay in 2026
MTA bus operators start at $28.76 an hour, $59,820.80 a year on a 40-hour week, and reach the full rate of $41.09 an hour, $85,462 a year, in the sixth year of service. Paid every two weeks, that is $1,661.20 take-home a paycheck in the first year and $2,229.40 at the full rate.
Operators are hired through a civil service exam; the latest Bus Operator exam notice lists the requirements.
| Step | Hourly rate | Take-home per paycheck | Take-home a year | Pension per paycheck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First year | $28.76$59,820.80 a year | $1,661.20 | $43,191.20 | $103.544.5% |
| Sixth year and after (full rate) | $41.09$85,462 a year | $2,229.40 | $57,964.40 | $189.005.75% |
Take-home is worked out with our NYC paycheck calculator for a single filer living in New York City, paid every two weeks, after federal, state and city income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the pension contribution for each salary band.
The TWU Local 100 contract expired on May 15, 2026; its last rates stay in force until a successor is agreed.
Subway conductors and train operators are paid from the same TWU wage chart.
How the MTA 414(h) pension contribution is taxed
Bus operators in Tier 6 pay 3% of pay up to $45,000, 3.5% up to $55,000, 4.5% up to $75,000, 5.75% up to $100,000 and 6% above that into the NYCERS transit plan or, at MaBSTOA, the MaBSTOA Pension Plan. It is a 414(h) pension contribution: it comes out before federal income tax, but New York State and New York City tax it, and it still counts as wages for Social Security and Medicare.
At the top step, $189.00 goes to the pension from each paycheck. Because it comes out before federal tax, federal withholding is $41.58 lower each paycheck than if the same amount came out after tax. State and city tax do not change.
Health premiums and flexible spending contributions for represented transit workers come out before federal income tax only; Social Security, Medicare and New York State and City tax still apply to them.
MTA bus operator salary calculator
The calculator starts at the top rate, $41.09 an hour for 40 hours a week, with the 5.75% pension contribution already set. Change the rate, hours or overtime to match your own paycheck. If your pay is in a lower pension band, set the 414(h) pension box to that band's rate.
At $85,462, the top step is close to an $85,000 salary, which takes home $61,118.22 a year in NYC with no pension contribution.
Take-home pay per paycheck
$2,229.40
$57,964.40a year
Enter your hourly rate to see your take-home pay.
- Effective tax rate
- 26.4%
- Marginal tax rate
- 38.1%
Based on 2026 IRS and New York State withholding tables.
Paycheck breakdown
| Line | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $3,287.00 | $85,462.00 |
| 414(h) pension | $189.00 | $4,914.00 |
| Federal income tax | $341.94 | $8,890.44 |
| Social Security | $203.79 | $5,298.54 |
| Medicare | $47.66 | $1,239.16 |
| New York State income tax | $155.78 | $4,050.28 |
| New York City income tax | $119.43 | $3,105.18 |
| Take-home pay | $2,229.40 | $57,964.40 |
Where your paycheck goes
- Take-home pay$2,229.4067.8%
- Federal income tax$341.9410.4%
- Social Security and Medicare$251.457.6%
- New York State income tax$155.784.7%
- NYC income tax$119.433.6%
- Pre-tax deductions$189.005.7%
Paychecks through 2026
- All 26 paychecks come to $2,229.40.
Rent you can qualify for
$2,136a month
NYC landlords ask for a yearly income of at least 40 times the monthly rent, so this is the most they approve on this pay.
MTA bus operator differentials and other pay
Night and weekend differentials, paid holidays and a differential for driving articulated buses come on top of the hourly rate.