A career with purpose: Why you should drive for Kitsap Transit
Laura Moniz was Kitsap Transit’s 2022 Routed Operator of the Year.
When Laura Moniz moved from Hawaii to Kitsap County in 2021, one of the first things she did was search for bus driving jobs. A former tour-bus, city-bus and school-bus driver, Moniz knew she wanted to continue her career serving the public as a transit operator.
"When I knew I was going to be relocating, I did a search, I found Kitsap Transit, and I applied immediately," Moniz said.
Working as a Kitsap Transit bus operator has many benefits. In addition to excellent medical, dental, vision and retirement benefits, new hires are eligible for up to a $7,000 signing bonus. Kitsap Transit will pay you while you train and help equip you with the knowledge necessary to get your Commercial Driver's License (CDL).
Plus, as Moniz can attest to, driving is fun.
"I've always enjoyed driving, and I love getting paid to drive," she said.
Driving routes across the county has led Moniz to discover new places to visit and explore when she's off work. Her other passions are photography, fishing and spending time with her family, and driving for Kitsap Transit has helped facilitate those.
"Having the flexible schedule is nice because that allows me to get outside to go on those hikes and take those pictures," Moniz said.
New operators at Kitsap Transit often start on "extra-board," filling in on routes where needed, as needed. That usually looks like a split shift – a few hours in the morning and a few hours in the evening. While that can be difficult to adjust to at first, Moniz said, it's also rewarding. Working extra-board is part of what led Moniz to be named Kitsap Transit’s 2022 Routed Driver of the Year.
"It's a really good feeling to be able to fill in where you're needed," Moniz said. "Kitsap Transit appreciates that and makes it well known that they appreciate that."
Working split shifts also opens a large chunk of time in the middle of the day to run errands, attend appointments, or just relax.
Moniz even coaxed her daughter, Rebekah, into driving for Kitsap Transit. Rebekah still remembers Moniz driving her to school daily as a bus driver.
"She has always been a bus driver, for as long as I can remember, and it's always something I've kind of wanted to do," Rebekah said.
While driving a bus can seem intimidating, it's an important job integral to many of our neighbors' daily lives. Bus operators, whether driving a fixed route or ACCESS paratransit, make it possible for other people to get to work, school, appointments, groceries or recreation. It's a career with purpose.
"If you have a passion for helping people, if you have a passion for driving, and you are looking for a place to fit in, this is it," Moniz said.
Drive for Kitsap Transit
Both Routed and ACCESS operators will receive up to a $7,000 hiring incentive when they hit certain milestones.
Routed Operators
Hourly wage (as of Feb. 16, 2023): $25.13/hour.
Annual wage increases
Make $33.69/hour at the seventh year of employment.
Top rate (as of Feb. 16, 2023): $36.38/hour.
ACCESS Operators
Hourly wage (as of Feb. 16, 2023): $23.68/hour.
Annual wage increases
Make $32.21/hour at the seventh year of employment.
Top rate (as of Feb. 16, 2023): $34.79/hour.