If you’re considering a career as a bus driver or curious about what bus drivers actually earn, understanding the true bus driver salary UK is essential. Bus driving remains one of the most accessible, stable, and rewarding careers in the UK transport sector, offering decent pay without requiring a university degree.
The bus driver salary varies significantly depending on where you work, which company employs you, your experience level, and how much overtime you’re willing to take on. From starting positions to experienced roles, bus drivers can earn anywhere from £22,000 to over £40,000 annually.
This comprehensive guide breaks down real bus driver earnings across the UK, explains regional and company pay differences, covers benefits and overtime potential, and helps you understand what you can realistically expect to earn as a bus driver in 2025.
Average Bus Driver Salary UK: Quick Overview
Let’s start with the key figures for bus driver salary in the UK:
Average bus driver salary: £28,000 to £32,000 per year for full-time drivers with some experience.
Starting salary: £22,000 to £26,000 per year for newly qualified bus drivers, depending on location and employer.
Experienced drivers: £30,000 to £35,000 per year after several years in the role, with London drivers earning significantly more.
London bus drivers: £32,000 to £40,000+ per year, with Transport for London (TfL) routes offering the highest pay in the UK.
Total earnings with overtime: Many bus drivers earn £35,000 to £45,000+ annually when factoring in regular overtime, weekend work, and unsocial hours premiums.
Most bus driver positions are full-time (typically 37 to 40 hours per week), though part-time opportunities exist. Shift work, early starts, late finishes, and weekend working are standard in this profession.
Starting Bus Driver Salary in the UK
When you first qualify as a bus driver in the UK, expect a starting salary between £22,000 and £26,000 per year. This typically applies during your probationary period, which usually lasts three to six months.
Starting pay depends heavily on location. Bus drivers in London, Manchester, and other major cities start higher (£24,000 to £26,000) compared to smaller towns and rural areas (£22,000 to £24,000).
Most bus companies provide free training to obtain your Category D driving licence and Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). This training typically takes 6 to 12 weeks, and you’re often paid a training wage (£300 to £500 per week) during this period.
Once you pass your tests and complete your probation, your salary increases to the standard rate for qualified drivers at your company, usually within six months of starting.
Experienced Bus Driver Salary UK
After gaining experience and establishing yourself as a reliable driver, bus driver salary UK increases substantially. Experienced bus drivers (typically those with 2+ years’ service) earn between £30,000 and £35,000 per year in most parts of the UK.
Pay progression varies by employer. Some companies offer incremental pay rises based on years of service, while others have flat rates with occasional across-the-board increases negotiated through union agreements.
Senior or specialist bus drivers can earn more by:
- Taking on training responsibilities (instructing new drivers)
- Becoming route assessors or driving examiners
- Moving into supervisory or depot management roles
- Working premium routes or services
The most experienced bus drivers in high-demand locations, particularly London, can exceed £40,000 annually before overtime.
Bus Driver Salary by Region
Geography significantly impacts bus driver salary. Here’s how pay varies across the UK.
London Bus Driver Salary
London offers the highest bus driver salary in the UK. Transport for London (TfL) contracted routes pay £32,000 to £40,000+ per year for experienced drivers.
Starting salaries for London bus drivers typically begin around £28,000 to £30,000, rising to £35,000 to £38,000 within a few years. The higher cost of living in London is reflected in these elevated wages.
London bus drivers also benefit from:
- Higher overtime rates
- Premium pay for working outer London routes
- Night bus supplements
- Free travel on TfL services for you and your family
Bus Driver Pay in Manchester, Birmingham, and Major Cities
Major cities outside London offer competitive bus driver salaries, though typically £3,000 to £8,000 lower than the capital.
Manchester: £27,000 to £33,000 for experienced drivers Birmingham: £26,000 to £32,000 for experienced drivers Leeds and Sheffield: £26,000 to £31,000 for experienced drivers Glasgow and Edinburgh: £26,000 to £33,000 for experienced drivers Bristol and Cardiff: £27,000 to £32,000 for experienced drivers
These cities often have recruitment challenges, meaning operators offer competitive starting salaries, sign-on bonuses (£1,000 to £3,000), and enhanced benefits to attract drivers.
Rural vs Urban Bus Driver Earnings
Rural and small-town bus drivers generally earn less than their urban counterparts, typically £24,000 to £29,000 for experienced drivers. However, lower living costs often offset the salary difference.
Rural routes may offer better work-life balance with more predictable schedules and less traffic stress, though overtime opportunities might be more limited.
Bus Driver Salary by Employer Type
Who you work for significantly affects your bus driver salary UK. Here’s how major operators compare.
Transport for London (TfL) Bus Driver Salary
TfL-contracted routes (operated by companies like Arriva, Abellio, Go-Ahead, and Metroline) offer the highest bus driver salaries in the UK. Drivers on TfL routes earn £32,000 to £40,000+ depending on experience and operator.
TfL ensures consistent minimum standards across contracted operators, meaning pay is relatively uniform regardless of which company operates your route. Benefits typically include excellent pension schemes, comprehensive sick pay, and generous holiday entitlement.
National Express and Stagecoach Pay
National Express and Stagecoach are two of the UK’s largest bus operators outside London.
Stagecoach bus drivers typically earn £26,000 to £33,000 depending on location, with higher pay in major cities and Scotland. Stagecoach offers structured pay progression and generally good benefits.
National Express (coach division) pays similarly, £26,000 to £34,000, with long-distance coach drivers sometimes earning more due to overnight allowances and extended hours.
FirstGroup and Go-Ahead Bus Driver Salaries
FirstGroup operates bus services across the UK, with driver salaries ranging from £25,000 to £34,000 depending on region. FirstGroup subsidiaries in major cities typically pay at the higher end.
Go-Ahead Group (operating routes across London, the South East, and North East) pays £28,000 to £38,000, with London operations at the premium end of this scale.
Local Authority vs Private Operator Pay
Local authority-operated bus services (increasingly rare but still existing in some areas) often offer slightly higher base salaries and better terms and conditions compared to private operators.
However, most UK bus services are now operated by private companies under competitive tender, meaning pay is driven by market rates rather than public sector scales.
How Overtime and Additional Hours Affect Bus Driver Salary
Overtime can substantially boost your bus driver salary UK. Many drivers regularly work beyond their contracted hours, increasing annual earnings by £5,000 to £12,000.
Standard overtime rates are typically time-and-a-half (1.5x your hourly rate) for weekday overtime and double time (2x your hourly rate) for Sundays and bank holidays.
If your base salary is £30,000 (approximately £15.50 per hour), overtime at time-and-a-half pays around £23 per hour. Working an extra 10 hours weekly at this rate adds approximately £12,000 to your annual income.
Many bus companies actively encourage overtime due to driver shortages, meaning plenty of additional hours are available if you want them. Some drivers routinely work 50 to 55 hours weekly, pushing total earnings well above £40,000.
Night shifts, early morning starts (before 6am), and late finishes (after 10pm) often attract unsocial hours premiums of 10% to 30% on top of base rates.
Bus Driver Benefits Beyond Salary
Bus driver salary is just part of your total compensation package. Additional benefits significantly enhance the value of these roles.
Pension Schemes
Most major bus operators offer occupational pension schemes with employer contributions ranging from 3% to 10% of your salary. Some companies still offer defined benefit pension schemes, though these are increasingly rare.
Over a 30 to 40-year career, pension contributions can be worth £100,000 to £300,000+ in retirement savings.
Holiday Entitlement
Full-time bus drivers typically receive 28 days annual leave (including bank holidays), with some employers offering up to 33 days for long-serving staff. This is standard across the industry and complies with UK employment law.
Free or Discounted Travel
One of the most valuable non-salary benefits is free or heavily discounted travel on your employer’s services, often extended to your immediate family. For families who rely on public transport, this can save £1,000 to £3,000+ annually.
Some operators also offer reciprocal arrangements with other transport providers, giving you discounted rail travel or travel in other regions.
Uniform and Equipment Provision
Employers provide uniforms, high-visibility clothing, and all necessary equipment free of charge. While not a cash benefit, it eliminates work-related clothing costs you’d face in many other jobs.
What Affects Your Bus Driver Salary in the UK?
Several factors determine your actual bus driver salary:
Location: London and major cities pay significantly more than rural areas and small towns, reflecting higher living costs and recruitment difficulties.
Employer: Large national operators generally pay more than small independent companies, though this isn’t universal.
Experience: Most companies offer pay progression based on length of service, with incremental rises for 3, 5, and 10+ years of service.
Shift patterns: Drivers willing to work unsocial hours (early mornings, late nights, weekends) earn substantially more through shift premiums and overtime opportunities.
Route type: Urban routes, school services, and premium routes sometimes attract higher pay than standard services.
Union membership: Companies with strong union representation (Unite, GMB) typically negotiate better pay rises and conditions than non-unionised workplaces.
Driver shortages: Areas experiencing acute driver shortages offer higher starting salaries, sign-on bonuses, and retention payments to attract and keep drivers.
Bus Driver Salary Progression and Career Development
Bus driving offers clear salary progression and career development opportunities beyond simply gaining experience.
Entry-level drivers start on £22,000 to £26,000, progressing to £28,000 to £32,000 within 2 to 3 years. After 5+ years, experienced drivers in good locations earn £32,000 to £35,000 or more.
Career progression routes include:
Driving instructor: Training new drivers, earning £32,000 to £38,000 Route assessor: Evaluating driver performance and safety, £30,000 to £36,000 Depot supervisor: Managing driver rotas and operations, £35,000 to £45,000 Operations manager: Overseeing multiple routes or depots, £40,000 to £55,000+
Many senior managers in bus companies started as drivers, so genuine progression opportunities exist for ambitious individuals.
Some drivers also transition into other professional driving roles (HGV, coach travel) or use their CPC qualification to move into driver training across the transport sector.
Is Bus Driver Salary Competitive Compared to Other Driving Jobs?
How does bus driver salary UK compare to other professional driving careers?
HGV (lorry) drivers: £28,000 to £40,000+ (often higher than bus drivers, especially for Class 1 long-distance work)
Delivery drivers (vans): £24,000 to £32,000 (similar to bus drivers but often with less job security)
Taxi and private hire drivers: £20,000 to £35,000 (highly variable, often self-employed)
Coach drivers: £26,000 to £35,000 (similar to bus drivers but with overnight stays)
Train drivers: £50,000 to £65,000 (significantly higher but much harder to enter)
Bus driver salary is competitive with most driving professions except train driving. However, bus driving often offers better job security, more stable hours, and clearer career progression than delivery driving or taxi work.
Unlike HGV driving, bus driving typically involves regular daytime hours, no overnight stays, and you’re home every evening. This work-life balance is valuable for drivers with families.
How to Become a Bus Driver in the UK
To become a bus driver and earn a bus driver salary, you need:
Age requirement: You must be at least 18 years old (increased from 21 in recent years to address driver shortages).
Driving licence: A full UK driving licence held for at least 12 months with no serious endorsements.
Category D licence: This allows you to drive buses and coaches. Most employers provide free training (6 to 12 weeks) to obtain this.
Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC): A mandatory qualification requiring 35 hours of periodic training every five years. Initial CPC training is usually provided during your Category D course.
DBS check: An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check is required for any role involving vulnerable passengers, particularly school services.
Medical assessment: You must pass a Group 2 medical examination confirming you meet DVLA standards for professional drivers.
Good communication skills: You’ll interact with passengers constantly, so customer service skills matter.
The application process typically takes 3 to 4 months from application to starting work. Most major bus companies actively recruit and provide comprehensive training at no cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bus Driver Salary UK
What is the average bus driver salary in the UK?
The average bus driver salary UK is £28,000 to £32,000 per year for experienced drivers. Starting salaries range from £22,000 to £26,000, while London bus drivers can earn £35,000 to £40,000+.
Do bus drivers get paid during training?
Yes, most bus companies pay a training wage (typically £300 to £500 per week) while you complete your Category D licence and CPC training, which takes 6 to 12 weeks.
How much do London bus drivers earn?
London bus drivers earn £32,000 to £40,000+ per year, making them the highest-paid bus drivers in the UK. Starting salaries in London typically begin around £28,000 to £30,000.
Can bus drivers earn over £40,000?
Yes, experienced bus drivers in London or those working substantial overtime in other cities can earn over £40,000. With regular weekend and evening overtime, total earnings can reach £45,000+.
Is bus driver salary good compared to other jobs?
Bus driver salary is above the UK median wage (£33,000) for experienced drivers and offers good job security, pension benefits, and free travel. It compares favourably to retail, hospitality, and many service sector roles.
What qualifications do I need to become a bus driver in the UK?
You need a full UK driving licence, Category D bus driving licence, Driver CPC qualification, and a Group 2 medical certificate. Most employers provide free training for the Category D and CPC requirements.
Do bus drivers get overtime pay?
Yes, bus drivers typically receive time-and-a-half for weekday overtime and double time for Sundays and bank holidays. Overtime can add £5,000 to £12,000+ to annual earnings.
Are bus drivers in demand in the UK?
Yes, there’s a significant shortage of bus drivers across the UK, particularly in major cities. This means good job security, competitive starting salaries, and often sign-on bonuses for new recruits.
Conclusion
Bus driver salary UK offers competitive, stable earnings for a career that requires no university degree and provides comprehensive training. From starting salaries of £22,000 to £26,000, through to experienced driver earnings of £30,000 to £35,000 (or £35,000 to £40,000+ in London), bus driving provides financial security and genuine career progression.
When you factor in overtime potential, excellent pension schemes, free travel for your family, and 28+ days annual leave, the total compensation package makes bus driving an attractive career choice for thousands of UK workers.
The ongoing driver shortage means this is an excellent time to enter the profession. Employers are actively recruiting, offering free training, sign-on bonuses, and enhanced starting salaries to attract new drivers.
Ready to start your bus driving career? Research major bus operators in your area, check their current vacancies, and apply directly through their websites. Most provide everything you need to qualify, and you could be earning a competitive bus driver salary within just a few months of starting your application.