Bus Driver
Also advertised as: Bus Driver, bus driving operator, bus operator, coach driver, Coach Driver, driver of bus
Drives scheduled bus services safely, on time and with good passenger care.
What the job involves
Bus drivers combine safe driving with customer service. You keep to the timetable, handle fares and passenger questions, manage difficult situations calmly and complete vehicle checks. Training for the PCV licence is usually funded by the operator.
Typical responsibilities
- Drive scheduled routes safely and punctually
- Carry out vehicle checks before service
- Assist passengers including those with disabilities
- Handle fares, ticketing and queries
- Report faults and incidents
Common employers
- Bus operators
- Coach companies
- Local authorities
- School transport providers
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£26,000 – £30,000 a year
With experience
£31,000 – £38,000 a year
Typical hours
Shift based including early mornings, evenings and weekends
Working environment
On the road
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
high
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Safe driving
- Customer service
- Timekeeping
- Calm conflict handling
- Route knowledge
Transferable skills you may already have
- Driving experience
- Customer facing work
- Shift working
Requirements employers ask for
- Safe driving
- Customer service
- Timekeeping
- Calm conflict handling
- Route knowledge
- Category D licence
- Driver CPC
- PCV licence
- Driver CPC
- Medical assessment
- mechanical components of vehicles
- adhere to transportation work schedule
- interpret traffic signals
- provide first aid
- perform services in a flexible manner
- focus on passengers
- use communication devices
- passenger transport regulations
- read maps
- help to control passenger behaviour during emergency situations
- manoeuvre bus
- apply conflict management
Useful but not essential
- Driving experience
- Customer facing work
- Shift working
- Coach and tour driving experience
- First aid
- handle petty cash
- execute vehicle maintenance
Helpful qualifications
- Coach and tour driving experience
- First aid
Licences and checks
- PCV licence
- Driver CPC
- Medical assessment
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Passenger Transport Driver (Level 2)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Any
Where this career can lead
next
Driver Trainer
next
Controller
next
Depot Supervisor
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Licence training usually funded
- Steady demand everywhere
- Free travel and pension benefits
What people find hard
- Early and split shifts
- Occasional difficult passengers
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a bus driver?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a bus driver earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £26,000 to £30,000 a year, rising towards £38,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Driving experience, Customer facing work, Shift working.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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