St. Johns County makes school bus operators among highest paid in Florida

SJCSD Transportation Department boosts pay by 11%, seeks to fill 300 full-time positions

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Out of 67 counties, St. Johns County School District’s Transportation Department bus operators are now amongst the highest paid in the State of Florida.

With an 11% wage increase, full-time SJC bus operators now make between $16 and $23.93 per hour. That’s on top of benefits such as the Florida Retirement System and sign-on bonuses in the amounts of $1,000 and $3,000.

“We are currently hiring for nearly 300 full-time operator positions with several of those positions available immediately,” said Alfred A. Pantano, director of Transportation for St. Johns County School District. “Transporting our kids safely to and from school is of the utmost importance. That’s why we offer our bus operators competitive compensation for a job that carries with it great responsibility.”

St. Johns County School District’s Transportation Department is actively recruiting new bus operators. While candidates must adhere to a strict list of requirements, a generous bonus structure adds incentive to qualified employees. For those with a current CDL Class B with P&S Endorsements, candidates are eligible for a $3,000 sign-on bonus after 75 days of solo driving. Other candidates are eligible for a $1,000 sign-on bonus after 60 days of solo driving.

“One of the most exciting benefits that we offer our bus operators is that after eight years of working full-time for the school district, employees are 100% vested in the Florida Retirement System, which is one of the largest public retirement plans in the United States,” Pantano said. “It’s just one of the many benefits of being a SJC bus operator. There are so many positives to driving a bus, and we like to say that we are the driving force of education.”

St. Johns County School District’s Transportation Department is accepting applications for full-time school bus operators. Interested parties can apply at  www.applitrack.com/stjohns/onlineapp/default.aspx?AppliTrackJobID=11152&ref. Training programs are held regularly throughout the year. For more information, go to www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/transportation/jobs or contact Monica Thurston at monica.thurston@stjohns.k12.fl.us or (904) 547-8814.