Bus driver salary in Melbourne: award rates, median earnings and take-home pay
If you are looking for a bus driver salary in Melbourne, the most reliable figures come from two sources: the minimum rates set by the Passenger Vehicle Transportation Award 2020, and the median earnings published by the ABS. This page uses those sources to give you a clear picture of what bus drivers in Melbourne can expect to earn, and how that compares with the national full-time average.
Award minimums for bus drivers in Melbourne
Melbourne bus drivers are covered by the Passenger Vehicle Transportation Award (MA000063), which applies to employers in the passenger vehicle transportation industry. The award sets minimum rates for adult employees across six grades. From the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026, the minimum hourly rates are:
- Grade 1: $27.34 per hour ($1,038.80 per week)
- Grade 2: $27.97 per hour ($1,062.90 per week)
- Grade 3: $29.55 per hour ($1,122.80 per week)
- Grade 4: $30.59 per hour ($1,162.40 per week)
- Grade 5: $32.27 per hour ($1,226.30 per week)
- Grade 6: $33.70 per hour ($1,280.50 per week)
These rates are for ordinary hours (an average of 38 per week for full-time employees). Penalty rates apply for Saturday, Sunday, public holiday and overtime work. Junior employees 18 years or older who are required to drive a passenger vehicle must be paid the adult rate if they are in sole control of the vehicle.
Median earnings for bus and coach drivers
While the award sets a floor, most experienced bus drivers earn above the minimum. According to the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), the median full-time earnings for bus and coach drivers nationally is $1,795 per week. That works out to about $93,340 a year before tax. The median hourly rate is $41.
This figure is for full-time non-managerial adult employees, which gives a more accurate comparison than including part-time or junior workers. It is higher than the all-occupations full-time median of $90,532, reflecting the specialised skills and responsibilities of driving passengers.
How bus driver pay compares with the national average
The national full-time adult ordinary-time average, as measured by ABS Average Weekly Earnings (May 2026), is $2,083.70 per week, or $108,352 a year. That is the line this site uses as a reference. A bus driver on the median of $1,795 per week earns about 86% of that average.
In Victoria, the state full-time average is $106,137 a year ($2,041 per week). The bus driver median of $93,340 is about 88% of the Victorian average. While bus drivers in Melbourne may earn slightly more or less than the national median depending on the employer, route and experience, the national median is the best available benchmark.
Take-home pay sketch for a Melbourne bus driver
To give a resident take-home sketch, we apply the 2026–27 tax rates and Medicare levy to the median bus driver salary of $93,340. The tax brackets are:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on the next $26,800 (up to $45,000)
- 30% on the next $48,340 (up to $93,340)
Tax on $93,340: $0 + $4,020 + $14,502 = $18,522. Medicare levy (2%) adds $1,867. Total deductions: $20,389. Take-home pay: approximately $72,951 per year, or $1,403 per week.
This is a rough estimate. Actual take-home will vary with tax offsets, deductions, and whether the driver has private health insurance (which may reduce the Medicare levy surcharge). The sketch assumes no other income or deductions.
State and territory comparison
Bus drivers are employed across Australia, but the occupation is concentrated in New South Wales (32.7%), Victoria (20.2%) and Queensland (24.4%). The median age of bus and coach drivers is 54, and only 16% are female. For context, here are the full-time average earnings in each state (all occupations, from ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026):
- 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 earning the national median of $93,340 would be below the state average in every jurisdiction, but above the national minimum wage of $52,255 (based on 38 hours at $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026).
Where to find more information
For a personalised estimate of your pay under the award, use the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool. You can also Place a salary on the line to see how any salary compares with the national average. For state-by-state breakdowns, see States and territories. And for median earnings in hundreds of occupations, visit Job medians.
The bottom line
A bus driver in Melbourne can expect to earn between the award minimum of about $54,000 and the national median of about $93,340, depending on grade, experience and hours. The median sits well above the minimum wage but below the national full-time average. Use the figures on this page as a guide, and always check the latest award and tax rates for your personal circumstances.