The average Bus Driver salary in South Africa is R9,800.00 per month. Aside from their salary, bus drivers can also earn bonuses for their endeavors. A bus driver’s annual bonus in South Africa is R4,524.00 (Salary Expert).
The annual performance bonus for bus drivers ranges from R4,000.00 to R39,000.00. In South Africa, only a few bus drivers receive bonuses. According to Salary Explorer, only 26% of bus drivers received bonuses in 2023, with the remaining not receiving any.
The industry is dominated by men, with men constituting 75% of the workforce. Furthermore, men earn more than women as bus drivers. Male bus drivers earn an average monthly salary of R10,400, while female bus drivers earn an average monthly salary of R9,670.00.
Employers are likely to provide benefits to bus drivers. In South Africa, 67% of bus drivers receive medical benefits from their employers (Payscale). Only 33% of bus drivers do not receive benefits from their employers.
A bus driver’s salary is influenced by some factors, which we will discuss below.
Factors that influence the salary of a Bus Driver in South Africa 2024
Education
A bus driver’s level of education influences their salary. Individuals with a high school education can also work as bus drivers. Bus drivers with a high school education earn an average monthly salary of R7,010.00.
Bus drivers with a higher certificate earn a higher annual average salary, with an average monthly salary of R10,000.00 (Salary Explorer). When compared to the salary of a bus driver with a high school education, bus drivers with a higher certificate earn 43% more.
Bus drivers with a Bachelor’s degree earn an even higher average salary, with a monthly salary of R13,900.00.00 (Salary Explorer). The salary of bus drivers with a Bachelor’s degree is 38% more than that of bus drivers with a higher certificate.
City of employment
The city in which a bus driver works influences their income level. Bus drivers in South Africa’s major cities enjoy better benefits and more flexible schedules. The cities with the highest pay for bus drivers in South Africa are listed below.
- Johannesburg, Gauteng with the highest salary of R18,131.00 per month;
- Nelspruit, Mpumalanga with the highest salary of R16, 671.00 per month; and
- Pretoria, Gauteng with the highest salary of R16,045.00 per month.
A Bus Driver’s salary is also affected by the driver’s level of experience. Based on their level of experience, we examine the salary levels of bus drivers in South Africa below.
Salary of a Bus Driver based on their level of experience
Salary of a Bus Driver with 0 – 2 years of work experience in 2024
A Bus Driver with 0 to 2 years of experience can expect to earn R5,900.00 per month on average. This is an entry-level group, and bus drivers in this group earn the lowest salary of any group.
The lowest-paid bus drivers in this category are those with 0 years of experience, who earn an average monthly salary of R5,190.00. Bus drivers with 2 years of experience earn the most money, with an average monthly salary of R6,300.00.
Salary of a Bus driver with 3 – 5 years of work experience in 2024
A Bus driver with 3 to 5 years of experience can expect to earn R7,920.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 34% increase over the average salary of bus drivers with 0 to 2 years of experience.
Bus drivers with 3 years of experience earn the least in this category, with an average monthly salary of R7,000.00. Bus drivers with 5 years of experience earn the highest salaries in this category, with an average monthly salary of R8,400.00.
Salary of a Bus Driver with 6 – 10 years of work experience in 2024
A Bus Driver with 6 to 10 years of experience earns an average monthly salary of R10,300.00. The salary is a 30% increase over the average salary of bus drivers with 3 to 5 years of experience.
Those with 6 years of experience earn the least in this category, with an average monthly salary of R9,100.00. Bus drivers with 10 years of experience earn the most in this category, with an average monthly salary of R11,000.00.
Salary of a Bus Driver with 11 – 15 years of work experience in 2024
A Bus Driver with 11 to 15 years of experience can expect to earn R12,500.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 21% increase over the average salary of bus drivers with 6 to 10 years of experience.
Bus drivers with 11 years of experience earn the least, with an average monthly salary of R11,690.00. Bus drivers with 15 years of experience earn the highest salaries in this category, with an average monthly salary of R12,830.00.
Salary of a Bus Driver with 16 – 20 years of work experience in 2024
A Bus Driver with 16 to 20 years of experience can expect to earn R13,600.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 9% increase in average pay for bus drivers with 11 to 15 years of experience.
Those with 20 or more years of experience earn the most, with an average monthly salary of R14,300.00. Bus drivers with 20 years or more of experience can earn as much as R18,500.00 per month.
Conclusion
A bus driver’s salary can be as low as R6000 per month. From year 3 to year 20, the salary rises by 5% per year on average, bringing the salary up to R15,000 per month in year 20. However, salaries for those with more than 20 years of experience remain stagnant.
