INSIDE JOB : OCCUPATION: BUS DRIVER

Name: Pam Herberich-Peters

Company: Orange County Transit District

Thumbs up: “I like being out with the public, working with the passengers. I’ve met people from all over the world. I like the freedom of driving and being outdoors all the time.”

Thumbs down: “If I could, I would change the attitude of the other drivers on the road. You know a bus is going to have to stop some time. Go around us. Don’t cut us off--and don’t flip us off.”

Next step: Radio dispatcher, who receives distress calls from bus drivers. Or field supervisor, who handles problems bus drivers have en route, from minor maintenance to finding the home of a lost senior citizen.

Advice: “It’s a really good job for someone with patience. There’s a lot of traffic here in Orange County.”

Salary range: Depending on experience, $5 to $14 an hour.

Fringe benefits: Most employees receive medical and dental insurance, paid vacation, vision insurance, paid sick leave, life insurance and retirement plans. The district has installed an employee weight-training room at its Irvine depot, and workers there have formed a cross-country bicycling club.

Educational and training requirements: A valid Class B driver’s license and ability to perform emergency first aid, including CPR. Most intercity carriers require applicants to be at least 24. Some local transit carriers set the minimum age at 21.

Size of work force: Small. About 1,250 people work as bus drivers, or 0.1% of workers in Orange County.

Expected demand: Growing slightly or stable.

Job description: Bus drivers transport passengers to local or distant points. They follow a route and a time schedule. They assist passengers with baggage, collect fares and give directions.

Major employing industries: City and county governments, tour, shuttle and airport transit companies.

Advancement: Limited promotional opportunities.

For more information: Call or visit the job service window at any office of the state Employment Development Division. In Orange County, the offices are at 900 E. Pacifico Ave. in Anaheim, (714) 978-7421; 233 E. Commonwealth Ave. in Fullerton (714) 680-7800, and 1001 S. Grand Ave. in Santa Ana (714) 558-4294. Employers are also invited to call with job openings.