IF you’re thinking about a career change you could do worse than learning to drive a train, bus or tram.
In spite of widely reported strikes over pay, the best paid train drivers in the country can earn up to £70,000 a year.
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And there are lots of jobs being advertised offering to pay you a salary while you learn on the job.
Bus drivers are also in very high demand, and you don’t need any qualifications except a full EU or UK drivers licence you’ve held for a minimum of six months.
While at the moment there’s less demand for those looking to drive trams, there are still opportunities out there paying a decent wage.
Here’s what you can expect to earn and how you could get into the driving seat if you’re considering a new career route.
How much do train drivers earn?
Depending on experience, train drivers can earn up to around £70,000 in some parts of the country.
According to recruitment firm Reed, the average train driver salary in the UK is £48,500 per year.
But if you’re thinking about training from scratch, you can expect to begin with an average starting salary of £30,000.
A fully qualified driver can usually earn more than £65,000.
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Depending on what type of train you’re driving, the salary can be lower.
For example, according to Reed, the average freight train driver salary in the UK is £44,418.
But the highest paid drivers on the passenger trains on the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) line take home £70,000 a year.
Where you are in the country also makes a difference to what you can earn.
The average train driver salary in London is £58,795, with experienced professionals in the region having salaries that often exceed £69,000.
Train driver salaries in Scotland start at £38,194 for newly qualified drivers, rising to £48,360 after your probation period has ended.
Starting salaries for trainee drivers with FirstGroup earn £24,000 a year but this rises to £58,000 after they qualify.
To earn that, drivers have to work full-time and be prepared to work both day and night shifts and sometimes at weekends.
For example, qualified train drivers who work for Greater Anglia can earn up to £52,000 a year full-time on the Norwich line.
A qualified train driver in Glasgow, Scotland working full-time on night shifts would net around £49,000 a year.
But a driver with experience can earn around £58,000 working on the TransPennine Express between Aberdeen and Liverpool.
Don’t forget that if you’re employed, your company will also pay some money into your pension – so you’ll be getting more than just your basic salary.
Some companies also offer other benefits such as private health insurance or free gym membership.
How much do bus drivers earn?
Driving a bus can net you a very respectable income once you’ve got some experience under your belt.
You must be at least 18 and hold a full EU driver’s licence to apply but that’s it.
New drivers are given a number of lessons and training courses by the company they join, and typically qualify in a few weeks.
One bus driver told recruiter Reed: “I absolutely love driving, so it seemed like a great fit for me.
“I wouldn’t recommend this job if you get bored easily, or have a tendency to yell at traffic.
“But if you love being out on the road and doing something practical, this is definitely the job for you.”
How much bus drivers earn will depend on where they are in the country.
A trainee driver with First Bus in Chelmsford, Essex can earn £12.60 an hour – and you don’t need to have driven anything bigger than a car before you start learning.
Though you will need to be over 18 and have had a full UK licence for at least six months.
After qualifying to drive the bus on their own, the hourly wage rises to £14.40.
In London, drivers of the iconic red double deckers can earn earn £15.99 an hour as a new starter and £22.91 after qualifying.
If you join a tour bus company, the pay is anywhere between £20 and £26 an hour once you’ve got experience.
And the good news is, bus drivers are in high demand.
Jack Kennedy, economist at jobs site Indeed, said there are plenty of opportunities.
“Positions are in high demand by employers, with job postings up by 36% since the pandemic,” he told The Sun.
“The average hourly wages for these roles have also risen by a staggering 17% from £11.59 to £13.50 – and that’s just over the past year.”
That adds up to an annual salary of £28,080.
“And there’s the potential to earn extra through overtime and bonus pay on top,” Jack added.
How much do tram drivers earn?
Driving a tram is only an option if you’re based somewhere that has them.
But if you live in Edinburgh, Croydon, Sheffield, Manchester, Nottingham, Blackpool, Tyne and Wear or the West Midlands then you could bag yourself a job on the rails.
A trainee tram driver in Sheffield starts on £23,358 rising to £26,391 after qualifying.
If you’re keen to take this route, you’ll need to keep tabs on the jobs board as there aren’t that many roles being advertised.
According to the National Careers Service you can apply to tram operating companies for tram driver training.
Some employers will prefer you to have a few GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 or A* to C – particularly in English and maths.
You’ll usually need a driving licence to apply and experience as a bus, coach or train driver would be useful but is not essential.
Each city with a tram service has a separate operator.
Manchester Metrolink is hiring at the moment, with drivers able to earn up to £43,000 a year.
You must have a UK or EU driving licence with no more than three points and have been driving for more than two years.
Meanwhile these are the highest paid jobs you can do without a degree.
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