Bus and coach drivers salary in South East
Full-time average annual pay in South East
£34,023
Based on ~12,000 employees · 2025 · moderate suppression
Median
£34,023
Mean
£32,037
| Statistic | Annual pay (gross) |
|---|---|
| Median | £34,023 |
| Mean | £32,037 |
Region-level range withheld by ONS — UK-wide, the middle half of bus and coach drivers earn £27,639–£42,200. See full methodology →
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 South East
The typical bus and coach drivers in South East earns a median salary of £34,023 in 2025/26, based on around 12,000 employees — broadly in line with the UK-wide median of £33,947. 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.
Across the UK, South East ranks 2nd of 11 regions for bus and coach drivers pay. Regional medians run from £19,157 in Wales up to £44,375 in London, a spread of £25,218 (132%).
The mean (average) salary is lower, at £32,037, which points to a cluster of lower-paid roles dragging the average down — so the median is the better guide to typical pay here.
To see what £34,023 means after income tax and National Insurance, use the take-home pay calculator below — it also factors in student loan repayments.
Take-home pay estimate
Tax year 2025/26| Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £2,835 | £34,023 |
| Income tax | £358 | £4,291 |
| National Insurance | £143 | £1,716 |
| Take-home pay | £2,335 | £28,016 |
Estimate only · 2025/26 HMRC rates · Standard tax code · No pension contribution · Not financial or tax advice
How Bus and coach drivers 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 (current region) | £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 (current region) £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.
How bus and coach drivers pay in South East has changed over time
Median annual pay for bus and coach drivers in South East by year, shown against the UK-wide median (Source: ONS ASHE). The shaded band is the UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range — ONS does not publish percentile ranges at region level.
South East median
UK median
▪ UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
How the figures are sourced
Data sources: Official UK earnings data (2025 provisional)(opens in new tab)
Related roles in Road Transport Drivers
Other published roles in this occupation group. View category overview →