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How much do you earn?

31 replies

Benny91 · 20/09/2025 15:54

Sorry if this is a personal post. But, I’m currently on £37,000 a year at age 33 as a bus driver and find it absolutely shit money.

So what’s your earnings and how did you get into your job?

OP posts:
Shr3dding · 20/09/2025 16:22

Have you started a few threads or has there been an influx of bus drivers recently?

What's with all the bus driver questions ?

Hurumphh · 20/09/2025 16:26

People earn a range. You’re probably asking the wrong question.

What do you want to earn? What do you want to do next in your career? What information do you need to help you get there?

LizzyEm · 20/09/2025 16:32

I take home 32,960 doing niche admin, fully remote. I got into it by accident really. Started off in a form of customer service/complaints handling/PR then moved from that into admin management. I'm being vague as not to be outing.

LizzyEm · 20/09/2025 16:33

Oh and I took a massive cut to live where I do and be fully remote but it suits me.

IMissSparkling · 20/09/2025 16:34

I genuinely have no idea what my exact salary is.

ThreePears · 20/09/2025 16:38

A friend of mine is a London bus driver. I have nothing but admiration for her.

£37k is a decent salary anyway, and is about the average overall, I think.

childofthe607080s · 20/09/2025 16:39

You are about spot in the middle assuming you are a full time worker with a take home of 2.5k

so wether plenty for a reasonable life or skint depending on your housing costs

so single in London - very tough - paying half as rent perhaps , single in Newcastle probably fine with say 800 for rent

edit obvious typos

edit 2 - more but degree educated in science field

Lemonadepie · 20/09/2025 16:39

People earn a range of amounts from both salaries and other incomes, so your question is not that helpful imo

Butterflybum · 20/09/2025 16:42

What do you want to do? What take home would you be satisfied with? Are you willing to retrain?

ampel · 20/09/2025 16:50

What I earn in a specialised field very different to yours is probably not helpful unless you’re interested in doing several degrees.

What do you like/dislike about your job other than the salary? What are your strengths and weaknesses? You could look at higher paid options with some of those elements eg if you like interacting with the public maybe sales could be an option, or if you like driving then driving HGVs or even trains would pay more.

BeefAndHorseradishSandwich · 20/09/2025 17:19

£47,200.

friendsDisUnited · 20/09/2025 17:24

I think you need to start with your skills, qualifications, interests and work from there. People on the internet may have degrees or soft skills you could never hope to acquire so this thread is a bit pointless.
I will bite though, I work very few hours as company secretary to family business and earn about the same as you.

SandStormNorm · 20/09/2025 17:36

I earn around £120k-£130k net. It varies between years because I am self employed, and I also have investment income that fluctuates. I am a former academic, and nothing in my specialism applies to the business operations I run nowadays. Which draws me back to you. If you like driving, look into haulage as there is a labour demand (and salary to reflect the shortage). If not, think about retraining that would align with your interests. You are young enough to change career. I was bored silly doing my former professional job, and do not regret changing what I did.

HCAokay · 20/09/2025 17:42

Lowly NHS
£23,448. I’d be better off driving a bus than caring for patients.

Loveduppenguin · 20/09/2025 17:46

50k pharma

Angrymum22 · 20/09/2025 17:49

My pension is a little more than your salary OP. I do still work 1 day a week which with savings doubles my income, although I pay most of it into a secondary pension so that when I properly retire I can be very comfortable. The main difference between us is mortgage/rental. I’m mortgage free but I’m currently pouring a significant amount of my money into my student DS’s money pit.

I think £37k for driving a bus is bloody good money. Neither of my nieces who have degrees are earning that amount of money. They have spent 5yrs as students and with no significant earnings so are well behind you in their prospects. However in 5 yrs they may be earning double or even triple your income. Education doesn’t entitle you to a huge starting income but it often enhances your earning potential.

If you want to improve your earning potential you need to look at other career pathways which may involve part time or full time return to education.

GiveTheGoblinsSnacks · 20/09/2025 17:51

£60k

IDontHateRainbows · 20/09/2025 17:53

£55k which is not too shabby given i live in the north with a small mortgage and no childcare.

RoseRedorDead · 20/09/2025 17:55

I earn 1k a month but I only work 8 hours a week. But I'm not the main earner and our set up works for us. I have managed to maximise my hourly rate for my skill set to enable me to do this though.

FreeTheOakTree · 20/09/2025 17:55

Angrymum22 · 20/09/2025 17:49

My pension is a little more than your salary OP. I do still work 1 day a week which with savings doubles my income, although I pay most of it into a secondary pension so that when I properly retire I can be very comfortable. The main difference between us is mortgage/rental. I’m mortgage free but I’m currently pouring a significant amount of my money into my student DS’s money pit.

I think £37k for driving a bus is bloody good money. Neither of my nieces who have degrees are earning that amount of money. They have spent 5yrs as students and with no significant earnings so are well behind you in their prospects. However in 5 yrs they may be earning double or even triple your income. Education doesn’t entitle you to a huge starting income but it often enhances your earning potential.

If you want to improve your earning potential you need to look at other career pathways which may involve part time or full time return to education.

I think £37k for driving a bus is bloody good money. Neither of my nieces who have degrees are earning that amount of money. They have spent 5yrs as students and with no significant earnings so are well behind you in their prospects. However in 5 yrs they may be earning double or even triple your income. Education doesn’t entitle you to a huge starting income but it often enhances your earning potential

Why do we need to always look down?

So your university educated nieces should earn more than OP?

bugalugs45 · 20/09/2025 17:57

Minimum wage . £12.21 an hour

jetlag92 · 20/09/2025 18:04

Be a tube driver instead?

I'm amazed bus drivers earn so little when tube drivers are going on strike as 65-75K is too little. Significantly more difficult navigating your way through traffic, when they do little more than pressing a button!

boganic · 20/09/2025 18:10

Im on 33.5k, but it’s prorata’d 4/5 I’m an assistant accountant

JacknDiane · 20/09/2025 18:25

jetlag92 · 20/09/2025 18:04

Be a tube driver instead?

I'm amazed bus drivers earn so little when tube drivers are going on strike as 65-75K is too little. Significantly more difficult navigating your way through traffic, when they do little more than pressing a button!

Have you driven a tube train @jetlag92?

How do you know what a driver does?

EmeraldDreams73 · 20/09/2025 18:29

About 25k. In the SW, self-employed, working full time in termtime and 3 days a week in school hols (some of my work is termtime only). I take a week off at Christmas but only very occasional single days at other times of year.

Dh earns 29k in the NHS. Small mortgage, 2 dc, no holidays ever, and meals out only for birthdays, but we're managing.