Bus and coach drivers salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£33,947
Typical Annual pay range
Employment patterns
- 81% of Bus work full-time
- 6% are self-employed
- 98.9% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Bus and coach drivers pay in the UK
The typical bus and coach drivers in the UK earns a median salary of £33,947 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of bus and coach drivers earnings fall between £27,639 and £42,200 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced bus and coach drivers.
Where you work changes the picture: bus and coach drivers pay ranges from £19,157 in Wales up to £44,375 in London, a difference of £25,218 (132%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see bus and coach drivers pay in London or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for bus and coach drivers at £44,375 — 31% above the UK median. Wales is lowest at £19,157.
UK median £33,947
| Region | Median payUK median £33,947 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £44,375 | £44,375 | £43,392 | +31% |
| South East | £34,023 | £34,023 | £32,037 | ±0% |
| East of England | £32,346 | £32,346 | £33,099 | -5% |
| North West | £32,308 | £32,308 | £30,298 | -5% |
| South West | £31,329 | £31,329 | £29,169 | -8% |
| North East | £31,248 | £31,248 | £29,449 | -8% |
| Scotland | £30,880 | £30,880 | £30,810 | -9% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £30,256 | £30,256 | £29,035 | -11% |
| West Midlands | £28,715 | £28,715 | £27,628 | -15% |
| East Midlands | £28,200 | £28,200 | £28,074 | -17% |
| Wales | £19,157 | £19,157 | £18,724 | -44% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £44,375 | £44,375Mean £43,392 | +31% |
| South East £34,023 | £34,023Mean £32,037 | ±0% |
| East of England £32,346 | £32,346Mean £33,099 | -5% |
| North West £32,308 | £32,308Mean £30,298 | -5% |
| South West £31,329 | £31,329Mean £29,169 | -8% |
| North East £31,248 | £31,248Mean £29,449 | -8% |
| Scotland £30,880 | £30,880Mean £30,810 | -9% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £30,256 | £30,256Mean £29,035 | -11% |
| West Midlands £28,715 | £28,715Mean £27,628 | -15% |
| East Midlands £28,200 | £28,200Mean £28,074 | -17% |
| Wales £19,157 | £19,157Mean £18,724 | -44% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£33,947); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local bus and coach drivers pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow bus and coach drivers pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for bus and coach drivers by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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