Ottawa's OC Transpo is hiring full-time bus operators, and the pay is drawing attention from people looking for a well-paid job that doesn't require a degree.
The pay figures were highlighted in an Instagram post by @shottawa.tv on October 3, which asked its followers a pointed question: "would you drive for OC Transpo?"
What the job pays
According to the post, bus operators start at $32.22 an hour after training. After 24 months, the rate climbs to $37.91 an hour.
At the top rate, that works out to roughly $79,000 a year based on a 40-hour work week, before any additional pay or overtime. Our own arithmetic on the same 40-hour basis puts the starting rate at about $67,000 a year, though the post doesn't give a figure for that.
No degree required
@shottawa.tv framed the posting as one of the better-paying jobs in Ottawa that doesn't call for a college or university degree. The posting describes the roles as full-time.
The cost-of-living question
The account tied the numbers to the rising cost of living for Ottawa residents, and asked whether nearly $38 an hour would be enough to tempt them into the driver's seat. For anyone weighing a career change, the details above are the ones that matter: the starting rate, the 24-month step up, and the full-time hours.
The post only covers pay and the basic shape of the role. It doesn't say how many positions are open, what the training involves, or what the application process looks like. Anyone interested should check OC Transpo's own careers listing for the current requirements, deadlines and any conditions attached to the posting before applying.
Where the numbers come from
The pay figures in this article come from the @shottawa.tv post and have not been independently confirmed with OC Transpo. Rates and openings can change, so treat the posted numbers as a guide and confirm them with the employer.
Source: @shottawa.tv on Instagram
