Bus Driver
Shortage Now
States / territories with a shortage signal
Why this shortage: Short training gap
Snapshot
Median salary
A$70,700
Full-time annual
People employed
34,200
Estimated workforce
Shortage signal
Shortage (national)
Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.
What you actually do
Drives a bus to transport passengers short distances on scheduled intra-city services over established routes.
Specialisations
Skills & main tasks
Official main tasks
- Drives a bus to transport passengers over established routes while adhering to traffic regulations
- Stops at set locations to enable passengers to board and alight
- Assists passengers with boarding and disembarking from the bus
- Collects fares and issues tickets, and monitors electronic payment
- Provides information to passengers regarding routes, schedules and fares
- Monitors and ensures the safety of passengers during transit, and maintains the orderly conduct of passengers
- Completes required paperwork and documentation, such as daily logs and incident reports
Where people work
State / territory distribution
Highest education
Share of workers
Education & work pattern
Part-time
40%
Female rate
13%
Median age
56
2030 & 2035 employment outlook
to 2030
+4%
1,606 projected jobs
to 2035
+9%
3,719 projected jobs
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OSCA skill level 4
A classification attribute describing the occupation; it is not a personal eligibility or qualification decision.
Registration or licensing
Registration or licensing is required.
Official VET pathways
Certificate II in Driving Operations
Occupation ready
Real jobs right now
Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & moreCurrent vacancy signal
QLD · May 2026
85
ACT · May 2026
3
VIC · May 2026
72
NT · May 2026
8
SA · May 2026
31
NSW · May 2026
115
Where could this career take you?
Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Bus Driver.
Regional demand
Largest employment base
#1 Gold Coast
1,311 estimated employed
- 1
Gold Coast
1,311 employed
QLD
+4.63%
year on year
- 2
Sydney - Inner South West
1,174 employed
NSW
+17.99%
year on year
- 3
Melbourne - South East
1,171 employed
VIC
-24.79%
year on year
- 4
Melbourne - West
987 employed
VIC
-15.71%
year on year
- 5
Perth - South East
904 employed
WA
-3.21%
year on year
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Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.
Workers in this occupation
37,595
Moved in from another occupation
4,125
Moved to another occupation
3,050
Recommendation score: shortage = 2 points, no shortage = 1 point, plus 1 point for each 10% of projected growth to 2035.
- 1
4
points
- 2
3
points
- 3
3
points
- 4
3
points
- 5
3
points
Data status
- Classification
- OSCA 711231
- Last updated
- Refresh pending
- Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia OSL · Jobs and Skills Australia DOM · ABS OSCA · OSCA 2024 — Jobs and Skills Australia
Labour-market data coverage
- Shortage signal and drivers: JSA Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO unit group where applicable).
- Work profile, state distribution and education: JSA Occupation Profiles (ANZSCO mapped).
- Regional employment: JSA NERO, June 2026.
- Career-move observations: JSA DOM, last available 2020–21. Observed Australian worker transitions are not personalised recommendations; many contractors and sole traders are excluded, as are transitions below 10 workers.
- Vacancy signal: JSA Internet Vacancy Index, 3-month average (ANZSCO unit group).
- Employment outlook: JSA employment projections (ANZSCO unit group).
- Training pathways: JSA Training Occupation Pathways.
Data confidence: estimate. A missing CSOL flag is not a finding of visa ineligibility; check the current Home Affairs list.