Bus driver salary Brisbane: Where does it sit against the national line?
If you are looking at a bus driver salary in Brisbane, the first thing to know is that there is no single published figure for that exact role in that city. Instead, we can piece together the picture from three reliable sources: the national full-time average, the Queensland state average, and the minimum rates set by the relevant award. Each of these helps explain why a bus driver in Brisbane is likely to earn less than the national line.
The national full-time average as a benchmark
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 (multiplied by 52). This is the line that Average line uses as its reference point. It covers all full-time adult employees across all industries and occupations. For a bus driver in Brisbane, this figure is a useful starting point, but it is not typical for the role.
Queensland’s state average is slightly lower
Queensland’s full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings are $2,039.70, according to the same ABS release. That works out to roughly $106,064 a year. So the state where Brisbane sits is already about 2% below the national average. This gap can reflect differences in industry mix, occupation distribution, and cost of living. For bus drivers, the state average is still higher than what most drivers actually earn, because the occupation itself tends to pay below the all-industries average.
The award sets a floor for bus drivers
Bus drivers in Brisbane are covered by the Passenger Vehicle Transportation Award 2020, which Fair Work publishes. The award sets minimum weekly rates for full-time employees, ranging from $1,038.80 for a Grade 1 driver to $1,280.50 for a Grade 6 driver. On a 38-hour week, that is between $27.34 and $33.70 an hour. Even the top Grade 6 rate ($66,586 a year) is well below the national full-time average. Most bus drivers will be paid at or near these award rates, especially in the private sector. The award also includes penalty rates and loadings for overtime, weekends, and public holidays, which can lift actual earnings, but the base is low.
Median earnings for bus drivers confirm the pattern
Jobs and Skills Australia reports that the median full-time weekly earnings for Bus and Coach Drivers is $1,795, or about $93,340 a year. This is based on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours from May 2025. It is a more realistic figure for a typical bus driver than the national or state averages, which include high-paying professions. The median is about 14% below the national full-time average and about 12% below the Queensland state average. It is also above the award minimums, which suggests many drivers earn above the base rate, but still far from the national line.
Why the gap exists
The gap between a bus driver salary in Brisbane and the national full-time average comes down to three factors. First, the occupation itself is in a lower-paying industry (transport, postal and warehousing) and does not require tertiary qualifications. Second, the award rates are set below the market average for all occupations. Third, Queensland’s overall earnings are slightly below the national average, so even if bus drivers in Brisbane earned the state average, they would still be below the line. The combination of these factors means a bus driver in Brisbane is unlikely to reach the national full-time average unless they work significant overtime or move into a supervisory role.
What about other states?
If you compare Brisbane to other capitals, the story is similar. The ACT has the highest full-time average at about $119,090, while Tasmania is lowest at about $96,008. Bus drivers in the ACT might earn closer to the national line because public sector pay is higher, but the award still applies. For a full breakdown of state averages, see our States and territories page.
Using the median for a clearer picture
Because the national full-time average is pulled up by high earners, the median is often a better guide for typical workers. The full-time median across all occupations is about $90,532 a year, which is actually close to the bus driver median of $93,340. So while bus drivers are below the average, they are around the middle of the pack when compared to all full-time workers. For more occupation-specific medians, visit Job medians.
The bottom line
A bus driver salary in Brisbane is not published as a single figure, but the available data points to earnings well below the national full-time average of $108,352. Award minimums start around $54,000 a year, and the median for the occupation is about $93,340. Queensland’s state average is slightly below the national line, adding a small further gap. If you are a bus driver in Brisbane, your pay is likely to be closer to the national median than the average, and significantly below the line that Average uses as its benchmark.