Transit Operator

Salary: $31.75 - $40.02 Hourly
Location : 3701 96th St. SW, Lakewood, WA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 2932-26E
Department: Service Delivery and Support
Division: Service Delivery
Opening Date: 09/11/2026
Closing Date: 9/28/2026 4:00 PM Pacific


Description
Applicants hired from this recruitment must be available to attend full-time training for a period of seven (7) weeks, beginning Monday , December 28, 2026. Trainees in this class may be required to report to class on select weekend days.
Class size is limited.
Applicants who complete all hiring steps will have first consideration.
Pierce Transit is an independent municipal organization dedicated to fulfilling the mission of improving people's quality of life by providing safe, reliable, innovative, and useful transportation services that are locally based and regionally connected.
Do you enjoy working with people? Are you ready to make a difference in the lives of those in your community? Set your career in motion today at Pierce Transit!

No CDL? No problem! Pierce Transit will pay YOU to get your Class B CDL on-site with some of the best driving instructors in the industry!

• As a trainee, base pay is $31.75 per hour ;
• Upon completion of all training, and promotion to Transit Operator, pay increases to $33.08 , with step increases annually thereafter until reaching the top of the pay range at $40.02 per hour, which equates to a base annual salary of $83,241.60.
• Plus a competitive benefits package that includes:
  • Paid Leave (11 paid holidays, 2 personal paid holidays, additional 2 personal holidays for participating in a qualifying wellness activity and the annual survey, up to 12 days of accrued sick leave, and up to 12 accrued vacation days per year)
  • Excellent Insurance options for you and your family (Medical, Dental, Vision)
  • Defined benefit retirement plan through the Washington State Public Employee's Retirement System (PERS)
  • Deferred Compensation in a 457 savings plan with a 4.25% match
  • Tuition Assistance
  • Professional Development and Career Growth Programs such as Job Shadowing and Career Planning
  • Employee Wellness Program
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program for those eligible
  • ORCA Card for self and family member
  • Relocation benefit of up to $2,500 for those who are relocating to the Pierce, King of Thurston Counties from more than 60 miles away
  • Four 24/7 Employee Fitness Rooms, Driver Lounge, and Relaxation Room
  • Innovative services connecting our community with the transportation reliability they need

Pierce Transit Operators have been driving and thriving in Pierce County for 45 years and we would love for you to drive us through the next 45! Transit Operators also have room to grow with promotional opportunities to become supervisors, instructors, dispatchers, managers, and many more!
Applicants are highly encouraged to review Pierce Transit's background check policy and driving abstract section to ensure they have an acceptable driving record prior to applying. The background check policy can be found

Essential Functions
The following functions are not intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• We are looking for drivers who will provide excellent service to our customers, informing them about fares, routes, schedules, and operating rules in a tactful and courteous manner.
• They will be relied on to ensure safe and efficient operation of transit coaches and agency vehicles while following routes, schedules, and all traffic regulations.
• Depending on the assignment, this person may operate a passenger van to pick up and drop off passengers eligible for specialized transportation. Work may include assisting customers with disabilities and those using wheelchairs in boarding and exiting the vehicle.

Individuals selected for these positions must have the ability to:

1. Be accurate and thorough in the completion of written accident, incident, and other reports.
2. Inspect the bus or van before and after operation.
3. Operate a radio to communicate with a dispatcher.
4. Read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand traffic signs and signals and to comprehend written instructions and standard operating procedures, notices, or memos.
5. Learn new routes and procedures and follow them reliably and consistently.
6. Know, understand and follow traffic laws and ordinances and safety rules.
7. Be available for work to cover any shift/route.
8. Demonstrate prompt and regular attendance, especially during the onboarding/training period.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Must be at least 21 years of age at the time of hire.
• Must have been licensed for a minimum of five (5) years to be considered.
  • Five (5) years of continuous , recent driving history with a valid license is required (i.e. no gaps in license status to include suspensions and withdrawals)
  • Applicants may apply with an out-of-state license but must possess a valid Washington State Driver's License at the time of hire.
• Must have an excellent driving record, with no revocations or suspensions. A complete driving record review is required. Driving abstracts will be reviewed for each state in which a candidate has held a driver's license as part of the selection process.
• To qualify for this position, candidates must provide at least five years of verifiable work experience, including two consecutive years with the same employer. Please ensure this is clearly reflected in the work history section of your application as well as any gaps in employment.

Additional License Requirements:

• Must obtain a Non-Excepted Interstate Class B Commercial License Permit with Passenger and Airbrake endorsements prior to a final offer being extended.

For more information about obtaining a CLP, please visit:


Other Requirements:

• Applicants must be successful in meeting physical requirements, which will be determined by a physical exam including a drug screen.
• Must be able to maneuver up to 300 pounds (passenger including a wheelchair) over a six-inch curb and up a wheelchair ramp.
• BFOQ: Applicants hired into the Transit Operator job must be able to safely and effectively operate all revenue service vehicles.
• Transit operators will be subject to periodic background check screenings by Joint Base Lewis-McChord in order to drive Pierce Transit vehicles on base when required.

Representation:

• This job is represented by the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Local #758.

Supplemental Information
Application Instructions
To be considered for this opportunity, you must apply online:

• The online application must include a chronological work and/or education history covering a seven-year period.

For questions regarding this recruitment or assistance with the application process, please contact Human Resources staff at View phone number on click.appcast.io or
If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at View phone number on click.appcast.io or email
Pierce Transit Is An Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
Pierce Transit has a strong commitment to the community we serve and our employees. As an equal opportunity employer, we strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.


Pierce Transit's Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay and all other forms of compensation, including benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment.
01


Do you currently possess a valid Driver's License?

• Yes
• No

02


Do you have a minimum of five (5) years continuous, recent driving experience as a licensed driver within the last five years?

• Yes
• No

03


Are you at least twenty-one (21) years of age?

• Yes
• No

04


Transit Operators are expected to drive any shift and any route including nights, holidays, weekends, mornings, split shifts, and days that may have been scheduled as "time off", if necessary.

• I am willing and able to meet this requirement
• I am not willing or able to meet this requirement.

05


Have you read and do you meet the driver background requirements as outlined in the agency's Background Check Policy? For your convenience, a copy of the policy can be found by clicking

• Yes
• No

06


I have included, in the work history section of this application, evidence of at least five (5) full years verifiable employment history , including two consecutive years with the same employer.

• Yes
• No

07


I understand that applications that do not demonstrate the required work history may be disqualified from the recruitment process.

• Yes, I understand that an incomplete or poor application may keep me from moving forward in the recruitment process.

08


Were you employed during the past three years by an agency that required random drug and alcohol testing under DOT regulations? (DOT-covered employers would typically cover other transit agencies, truck drivers, garbage truck drivers, school bus drivers, tour bus operators, or mechanics at any of these types of agencies.)

• Yes
• No

09


Do you have a current DOT medical certification?Please note: a DOT medical certification is not required at time of application.

• Yes
• No

10


Do you currently hold a CDL (A or B)?Please note: a CDL is not required at time of application.

• Yes
• No

11


Were you referred to us by a current Pierce Transit employee?

• Yes
• No

12


If yes, please leave their name below.
13


I understand that space in the Transit Operator Trainee classes is limited. Applicants who receive a conditional offer of employment and complete all required steps in the hiring process will be considered first in the selection for the December 28, 2026 Transit Operator Trainee class.

• Yes, I understand.

14


I understand the deadline to complete all steps in the hiring process is December 11, 2026.

• Yes, I understand.

Required Question