Jobs

Our full-time training program runs for about two months, with Trainee pay starting at $19.54/hour. Training generally takes place Monday–Friday, 6:00 am–2:30 pm. You’ll begin in the classroom, practice on a state-of-the-art simulator, and observe experienced Operators. From there, you’ll train side-by-side with an instructor in our dedicated lot before moving onto the streets of Champaign-Urbana. By the end of training, you’ll be ready — and have your very own CDL — to launch a stable, rewarding career.

As a Part-Time Bus Operator, you must provide at least 20 hours of availability per week and 2 weekend days per month — but there’s no cap on hours you can work. Whether you want a second shift to pair with another job, prefer late nights that suit your family life, or need specific days off, we can accommodate. Operators select routes three times a year or provide availability for our scheduling team to match.

From day one, you’ll also be eligible to apply for internal full-time Bus Operator roles, which are posted only to current employees. Many Operators use this flexibility to fit work around their lives. It’s a great career path for either part-time or full-time!

Part-time Bus Operators working 30+ hours per week qualify for employer-paid health, vision, and dental coverage for themselves — with no monthly premium. Coverage for family members is available, with MTD contributing 25% for part-timers and 55% when you move into a full-time role.

You’ll also earn paid time off — up to 122 hours each year, which you can use or cash out. Overtime pays at 1.5x your hourly rate or can be banked as additional time off. Full-time Operators also earn vacation time that grows with your service — from 1 to 6 weeks per year.

This is more than just a job — it’s a career. Bus Operators earn an average of $23.90/hour after one year, $27.09/hour after two years, and $31.87/hour by year five. Many employees reach our top rate — which is nearly $40 per hour — within seven years.

Operators stay with MTD because of our competitive pay and benefits — our average tenure is over 8 years, with dozens of Operators serving more than a decade (and one with 52 years of service!). Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, we kept every employee working and even provided extra paid time off for health and family needs. That’s the kind of stability you can count on with an essential public service.

MTD offers over 50 leadership and advancement roles for Operators, including Radio Operator, Instructor, Street Supervisor, and even Assistant Director and Director positions. More than 40% of our Supervisors began as Bus Operators, building rewarding careers with us over time. With clear pathways for advancement and support along the way, you can start in one role and grow into many others.

No CDL or commercial driving experience needed — if you can drive a car and have been driving for the past five years, we’ll teach you the rest. In fact, we specialize in training new Operators with personalized instruction and one-on-one support.

We also recognize and reward past experience. Applicants with relevant work history may qualify for experience credit, earning a 5%–10% pay increase right away after training.

• The best view in town — your bus is the corner office.
• Leave work at work — when your shift ends, the bus stays with us.
• Master the city — you’ll know Champaign-Urbana like the back of your hand.
• Free rides for you and your spouse, plus 75% discounted passes for your dependents.
• Low-cost private gym access for just $5/month, with professional equipment and a personal trainer available.