Bus and coach drivers Pay Data UK — 2025

Bus and coach drivers roles in the UK earn a median of £35,500 per year, equivalent to £16.65 per hour as of 2025. Pay increased 8.7% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £30,000 in West Midlands to £45,000 in London. Pay has risen over the past 4 years. The ONS national median for this occupation is £36,340/yr (2% below our computed national average).

Labour Market

Employment figures from ONS Annual Population Survey (APS). Counts are estimates; suppressed cells (small samples) are excluded from totals.

Pay by Region

Annual pay for Bus and coach drivers across UK regions. The bar shows the typical pay range (25th–75th percentile); the diamond marks the median.

Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).

How Pay Has Changed Over Time

Annual pay grew by +8.7% from 2024 to 2025.

National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot. Shaded band shows 25th–75th percentile range.

Year-on-Year Pay Change

Annual percentage change in median pay for Bus and coach drivers.

Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.

About Bus and coach drivers

Bus and coach drivers drive road passenger-carrying vehicles such as buses, coaches and mini-buses.

Typical Tasks and Duties

• checks tyres, brakes, lights, oil, water and fuel levels and general condition of the vehicle before start of journey
• drives single- and double-decked vehicle over pre-determined route, complying with traffic regulations and keeping to time schedule
• stops and opens and closes doors at pre-arranged places to allow passengers to board and alight, observing regulations concerning the number of passengers carried
• may collect fares from passengers and issue tickets or ensure that they use a ticket machine
• may plan routes in conjunction with private hirer and assist with loading and unloading of luggage
• balances cash taken with tickets sold and may be responsible for cleanliness of vehicle
• maintains records of journey times, mileage and hours worked

Entry Routes and Qualifications

There are no formal academic entry requirements, though candidates must be in possession of a full car driving licence. All bus and coach drivers are required to hold the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). This incorporates a theoretical examination and assessed driving. Entrants to the CPC test must be at least 18 years old. NVQs/SVQs in Road Passenger Vehicle Driving are available at level 2.

Related Occupations

Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.