Bus driver salary: Where it sits against the national line
The salary of a bus driver in Australia is shaped by a specific award, state labour markets, and the type of work. While the national full-time average provides a benchmark, bus driver pay often falls below that line, though it remains above the minimum wage. Understanding the award structure and regional differences explains why.
The award that sets the floor
Bus drivers are covered by the Passenger Vehicle Transportation Award, administered by the Fair Work Ombudsman. The award classifies drivers into six grades, each with a minimum hourly rate. From 1 July 2026, Grade 1 starts at $27.34 an hour, while Grade 6 is $33.70 an hour. For a full-time employee working 38 hours a week, that translates to annual minimums of about $54,000 for Grade 1 and $66,600 for Grade 6. These are the legal minimums; many drivers earn above award through enterprise agreements or individual contracts.
Junior employees 18 years or older who are in sole control of a vehicle must be paid the adult rate, removing the junior discount for those driving unsupervised. The award also includes penalty rates for early or late work (before 6am or after 7pm Monday to Friday), Saturday work, Sunday work, and public holidays, as well as a 25% casual loading. These loadings can lift effective hourly rates significantly, especially for casual drivers.
How the median compares to the national average
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 puts the national full-time adult ordinary-time average at $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year. This is the line used on this site. For bus drivers, the most recent median figure comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, August 2025: full-time non-managerial adult bus and coach drivers earn a median of $1,795 a week. That works out to about $93,340 a year, or roughly 14% below the national average.
It is important to distinguish between averages and medians. The national average is pulled up by high earners in industries like mining and professional services. The median for all full-time employees is about $90,532 a year, so bus drivers sit slightly above that all-occupations median. The all-employees median (including part-time and casual) is about $74,100 a year.
State differences matter
State average earnings vary considerably, and bus driver pay often reflects local labour market conditions. The ABS state-level full-time averages for May 2026 are:
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- South Australia: $102,450
- Western Australia: $115,825
- Tasmania: $96,008
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
A bus driver in Western Australia or the ACT may earn more than one in Tasmania or South Australia, partly due to different award classifications and enterprise agreements in those states. The States and territories page shows how each state compares to the national line.
Award grade and experience
Within the award, the grade determines the minimum. A Grade 1 driver (e.g., driving a small minibus) earns less than a Grade 6 driver (e.g., driving a large articulated bus on complex routes). Experience and employer policies can push pay above the award minimum. The median of $1,795 a week suggests many drivers are at Grade 3 or above, or receive allowances and penalties that boost their base rate.
Putting it on the line
If you are a bus driver, you can Place a salary on the line to see how your pay compares to the national full-time average, the median for your occupation, and the minimum wage. The tool uses a 38-hour week and shows the weekly and hourly equivalents. Remember that the national average is updated twice a year by the ABS (May and November), while the occupation median is from the August 2025 survey.
Key takeaways
- The median full-time bus driver earns about $93,340 a year, below the national average of $108,352.
- Award minimums range from $27.34 to $33.70 an hour, depending on grade.
- State averages vary by up to $23,000, with Tasmania the lowest and the ACT the highest.
- Penalty rates and casual loading can significantly increase take-home pay.
- The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, so even the lowest award grade is above that.
For more detail on how salaries are measured, see How the figures are set.