Workers' Comp Class Codes for School Bus Drivers: A State-by-State Guide
Last verified: · Reconciled against NCCI and state rating-bureau sources — how we verify
There is no single nationwide workers' compensation class code for school bus drivers. The correct classification depends on two things: who employs the driver — a private transportation contractor or the school district itself — and which rating bureau governs the state. Publishing one modeled national rate under a single “school bus” code (as some directories do) misstates the cost in most jurisdictions, which is why this guide breaks the classification down instead of quoting a made-up national figure.
The NCCI picture: 7383, 7382, and 7380
In the roughly two-thirds of states where the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) is the rating organization, three classifications commonly come into play for bus and driver work:
- 7383 — College or School — School Bus Drivers. The NCCI classification written specifically for school bus drivers and their aides, applied per each state's footnote. Florida's Division of Workers' Compensation, for instance, identifies 7383 for college and school bus drivers.
- 7382 — Bus Co. — All Other Employees & Drivers. Covers transit, charter, and tour bus operations and their drivers (garage employees are split out under 8385). A company that runs charter routes alongside school contracts is generally rated here, with school work separated to 7383 where the state adopts it. See the 7382 bus company rate page.
- 7380 — Drivers, Chauffeurs, Messengers & Their Helpers NOC — Commercial. The standard-exception driver code used when no more specific bus classification governs. Compare the 7380 drivers rate page.
When the district runs its own buses: the school classification
When the drivers are employees of the school or district rather than a private contractor, most jurisdictions do not use a stand-alone bus-driver code at all. They fold the drivers into the broader school classification, 9101 — School — All Other Employees & Drivers, which covers non-professional employees of an academic institution — including drivers, cafeteria workers, and maintenance staff it employs directly. New York, through the New York Compensation Insurance Rating Board (NYCIRB), classifies district-employed school drivers this way. See the 9101 school employees rate page and New York workers' comp rates.
Independent-bureau states set their own codes
Eleven states run an independent rating bureau that publishes its own classification system, so the NCCI codes above may not apply. New Jersey is the clearest example:
- 7381 — Bus Operator — School & Drivers is the New Jersey Compensation Rating & Inspection Bureau (NJCRIB) code for the school bus operation itself.
- 9106 — School: Non-Professional Employees & Drivers covers non-professional school staff and drivers in New Jersey.
California (WCIRB) and Pennsylvania (PCRB) likewise maintain their own schedules. In any independent-bureau state, confirm the school bus classification with that bureau rather than assuming the NCCI code carries over. See New Jersey rates and Florida rates for the two contrasting models.
Which code applies — quick reference
| Situation | Likely code | Governing body |
|---|---|---|
| Private contractor operating school buses (NCCI states) | 7383 — College or School — School Bus Drivers | NCCI (e.g. Florida DWC) |
| Bus company running charter/transit plus some school routes (NCCI states) | 7382 — Bus Co. — All Other Employees & Drivers | NCCI |
| School district operating its own buses, drivers on district payroll | 9101 — School — All Other Employees & Drivers | NCCI / NYCIRB (New York) |
| School bus operation in New Jersey | 7381 — Bus Operator — School & Drivers; 9106 for non-professional school staff & drivers | NJCRIB (independent) |
| Driver where no governing bus classification applies | 7380 — Drivers, Chauffeurs, Messengers & Their Helpers NOC — Commercial | NCCI |
This table is a starting point for a classification conversation, not a binding assignment. The governing scopes manual and your carrier or state bureau make the final call.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the workers' comp class code for school bus drivers?
- There is no single nationwide code. In NCCI states, school bus drivers are usually classified under 7383 (College or School — School Bus Drivers); a private company running mixed charter and school routes may instead be rated under 7382 (Bus Co. — All Other Employees & Drivers). When the school district operates its own buses with district-employed drivers, most jurisdictions fold those drivers into the school classification, 9101 (School — All Other Employees & Drivers). Independent-bureau states publish their own codes, so confirm the classification with the rating bureau for the state where the work is performed.
- Is NCCI code 7383 a nationwide school bus code?
- No. 7383 (College or School — School Bus Drivers) is an NCCI classification, but NCCI is the rating organization in only about two-thirds of states, and adoption and footnotes vary. Florida's Division of Workers' Compensation, for example, identifies 7383 for college and school bus drivers. States that run an independent rating bureau — including California (WCIRB), New York (NYCIRB), Pennsylvania (PCRB), and New Jersey (NJCRIB) — do not necessarily use 7383 at all.
- How are school bus drivers classified in New York?
- New York uses the New York Compensation Insurance Rating Board (NYCIRB). Where a school or school district operates its own buses, NYCIRB folds the drivers into code 9101 (School — All Other Employees & Drivers), which covers non-professional employees of the institution including drivers it employs directly, rather than a stand-alone bus-driver code.
- How does New Jersey classify school bus operations?
- New Jersey is governed by the New Jersey Compensation Rating & Inspection Bureau (NJCRIB), which publishes its own class codes. NJCRIB uses 7381 (Bus Operator — School & Drivers) for the school bus operation itself and 9106 (School: Non-Professional Employees & Drivers) for non-professional school staff and drivers. Neither maps one-to-one to the NCCI codes used in most other states.
- What code applies if the school district owns and runs its own buses?
- When drivers are employees of the school or district rather than of a private contractor, the school classification usually governs the whole operation — 9101 (School — All Other Employees & Drivers) in NCCI/NYCIRB terms, or 9106 in New Jersey. A contractor hired to transport students is rated on its own operations instead, typically 7383 or 7382 in NCCI states. This is exactly why a single national rate is misleading.
Sources
- National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) — Scopes of Basic Manual Classifications (codes 7380, 7382, 7383, 9101), ncci.com (retrieved 2026-07-26).
- Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Workers' Compensation — guidance identifying NCCI 7383 for college and school bus drivers, myfloridacfo.com (retrieved 2026-07-26).
- New York Compensation Insurance Rating Board (NYCIRB) — Classification Digest, code 9101, nycirb.org (retrieved 2026-07-26).
- New Jersey Compensation Rating & Inspection Bureau (NJCRIB) — Rate & Classification Handbook, codes 7381 and 9106, njcrib.com (retrieved 2026-07-26).
This page is informational and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice. See our full disclaimer and all workers' comp class codes.