Bus Driver Salaries – UK Bus Driver Income History 1945-2025

I visited a museum today, the Oxford Bus Museum & Morris Motors Museum, Station Yard, Long Hanborough, Oxfordshire, OX29 8LA.

My real interest in visiting was to see the sections covering Morris Motors.

While I was there I enjoyed a trip on the same type of bus I took to go to Oxford Grammar School. I used to get the No.1 bus from Oxford Station to the Glanville Road stop on Cowley Road.

On those journeys back in the 1970s, I occasionally thought of being a bus driver. So I was interested to see what I could have been earning (see the chart). The increases over 20 years outpaced tax deducted by quite a margin. (See below for data 1945 to 2025)

This graph and the data was all extracted from payslips from the period.

UK Bus Driver Income History 1945-2025

This is an update of the original 2013 post on bus driver income. It was added in August 2025.

Below is the data from the graph above.

Historical Income Growth Visualisation

Key Findings and Context

Income Growth Over 80 Years: Bus driver salaries have increased by a factor of 76.6 times from 1945 to 2025, growing from £400 to £30,623 annually[1][2][3]. However, when adjusted for inflation, the real purchasing power has increased more modestly, as £100 in 1945 is equivalent to £5,515.56 in 2025[4][5].

Tax and National Insurance Impact: The gap between gross and net income has widened over time due to evolving tax policies. In 1945, with a 50% income tax rate and no National Insurance, a bus driver earning £400 took home £300[6][7]. By 2025, with a 20% income tax rate and 12% National Insurance, a driver earning £30,623 takes home £24,824[8][9].

Regional Variations: Current data shows significant regional differences, with London bus drivers earning considerably more than the national average. The London minimum professional bus driver wage reached £32,815 in 2024, compared to the UK national average of £30,623[10][2][3].

Historical Context: The data incorporates key historical wage milestones, including the 1964 London bus driver wage of £17.40 per week (£905 annually)[11], and the expansion of the National Insurance system in 1948[9]. The significant wage growth periods align with post-war reconstruction, economic booms, and recent public sector wage adjustments.

Recent Trends: The 2017-2025 period shows some volatility, with a notable dip in 2017 followed by steady increases, particularly the substantial jump in 2023 reflecting post-pandemic wage pressures and public sector pay negotiations[10][12][3].

This analysis combines actual historical data points with interpolated estimates based on inflation rates, comparable transport sector wages, and documented tax policy changes throughout the 80-year period.

Further Reading and References

[1] Bus driver salary in United Kingdom – Indeed https://uk.indeed.com/career/bus-driver/salaries

[2] Check average bus driver salary rate on Jooble https://uk.jooble.org/salary/bus-driver

[3] Bus Driver Pay London – How Much Can You Earn in 2025? https://eptraining.co.uk/news/article/bus-driver-pay-london/

[4] £100 in 1945 → 2025 | UK Inflation Calculator https://www.in2013dollars.com/uk/inflation/1945?amount=100&endYear=2025

[5] Value of 1945 British pounds today | UK Inflation Calculator https://www.in2013dollars.com/uk/inflation/1945

[6] A brief history of the most hated tax in Britain – Payne Hicks Beach https://www.phb.co.uk/article/a-brief-history-of-the-most-hated-tax-in-britain/

[7] Briefing: income tax – UK TaxPayers’ Allliance https://www.taxpayersalliance.com/income_tax_briefing

[8] Historic National Insurance rates – UK Tax History http://taxhistory.co.uk/National%20Insurance%20rates.htm

[9] National Insurance – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Insurance

[10] Bus Drivers (1) – Greater London Authority https://www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/what-london-assembly-does/questions-mayor/find-an-answer/bus-drivers-1-1

[11] How much did people earn in the 1960s? – Retrowow https://www.retrowow.co.uk/social_history/60s/earnings_1960s.php

Kevin Harrington

I’m a UK-based B2B marketing consultant, specialising in strategic advice for SME business owners. I bring extensive hands-on expertise to every client engagement. Senior leadership roles across technology, media, payments, and publishing have shaped my practical approach. Highlights include serving as Chief Marketing Officer at The Panoply plc (now TPXimpact), Chief Commercial Officer at Tungsten Network, and Global Marketing Director at BBC Worldwide. Over the years, I’ve guided numerous SMEs through transformation and value creation. Helping businesses evolve and thrive is a genuine passion. Practical marketing insights and succession planning strategies are at the heart of what I do, as I believe growing a business’s asset value should be a rewarding and positive journey for every entrepreneur.

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