Does First Student pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, First Student employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.5 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at First Student. This rating has decreased by 2% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at First Student?

69% of First Student employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated First Student 3.8 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.5 for culture and values and 3.5 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at First Student?

School Bus Driver (493) , Graduate Student (365) , Software Engineer (195) , Bus Driver (165) , Driver (124) , Student Worker (67) , Data Entry (63) , Software Developer (59) , Internship (51) , Working Student (45) , Intern (43) , PhD Student (33) , Web Developer (30) , Bus Monitor (25) , Mechanical Engineer (25)

What are the pros of working at First Student according to real employee reviews?

"Pay was good and it was consistent" ((in 167 reviews)); "Worth ethics is good and people are supporting" ((in 111 reviews)); "Good Workplace and good environment" ((in 58 reviews)); "Free training for a CDL." ((in 48 reviews)); "Work life balance is good" ((in 40 reviews))

What are the cons of working at First Student according to real employee reviews?

"Bad management but now its good" ((in 109 reviews)); "Low salary compared to industry average" ((in 82 reviews)); "Not enough hour No benefit Not enough hour No benefit Not enough hour No benefitNot enough hour No benefit" ((in 73 reviews)); "Hours are long and do not let you sleep." ((in 54 reviews)); "Our location experience a very difficult 1 year period of changing managers 3" ((in 25 reviews))

What are employees saying about First Student layoffs in 2026?

Explore Glassdoor’s employee reviews to understand what current and former employees are saying about First Student layoffs and their outlook for job security at First Student in 2026.

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First Student

First Student reviews

3.7

69% would recommend to a friend

(3,729 total reviews)

John Kenning

70% approve of CEO

65% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

3.9

Diversity & inclusion

3.8

Work/Life balance

3.5

Culture & values

3.5

Compensation and benefits

3.5

Career opportunities

3.3

Senior management

First Student has an employee rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars, based on 3,729 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The First Student employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Transporte y logística industry (3.5 stars).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

4K reviews

4.0

Feb 11, 2015

good pay and flexible hours

School bus driver

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

started at 12.50, went up to 17.51 on my third year. (location varies) able to bring your children to work, extra work can be fun, and make good money. Your off when your kids are off of school. (snow days, vacations, ext)

Cons

On and off the clock all day, makes for a long day, but between the commute, your only getting paid min 2-4 hours a day, if extra work isn't available, or canceled due to weather Takes years to acquire seniority, and a comfortable pay rate. Moved out of state panning to transfer, was a 30min to hour commute, and a $2 pay cut,, not to mention didn't accommodate my son's school district.

3.0

Jan 8, 2015

Challenging and a rewarding experience all at the same time. It was great while it lasted.

Dispatcher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

The knowledge of knowing that I helped to ensure students made it to school and back home safely is what I enjoyed about First Student. First Student puts their best foot forward to ensure the safety of students. The pay was very good for a part time job. I worked as a driver first. Then I moved to dispatch which was a full time position with a little less pay. I enjoyed working with my fellow bus drivers and dispatcher. We were like a family. We had our good days and bad days. Most of all we worked together as a team regardless of differences to make sure we met the ultimate goal. The transporting of students safely.

Cons

Some of the challenges that you will encounter are buses breaking down. The mechanics are great, but the buses go through a lot of wear and tear. Also, children getting on the wrong bus. As a driver the worse thing you want to hear come over the radio is that dispatch is looking for a child.

4.0

Jan 7, 2015

Worked here for 18 years plus

School bus driver

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

I enjoy the kids and the pay is great! I make 18.00 an hour sitting. I don't have a high education. There is alway a way to make extra hours with Charters and extra work.

Cons

The job takes up all your time. I work from 6 AM to 7:15 PM back and forth all day to make just 8 hours pay. It stinks getting up so early and the winters in a cold bus are miserable!

Viewing 3595 - 3597 of 3,729 Reviews

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