Train Drivers’ Salaries Hit UK’s Top Earners
Train drivers in Britain have entered the ranks of the top 10 highest-paid professions after receiving double-digit pay rises last year.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), train and tram drivers now earn an average annual salary of £76,327, up from £63,970 the previous year — a rise of nearly 19%.
This jump in earnings has moved train drivers up to eighth place out of 339 occupations with comparable data, rising from 11th place last year.
Train Drivers Close the Gap with Pilots and Financial Managers
ONS data shows that the average salary of train drivers is now just £120 behind financial managers (£76,447) and only slightly below commercial airline pilots (£82,746).
Outearning Head Teachers, Police Chiefs, and PR Directors
Train drivers’ average pay now surpasses many traditionally high-status professions, including:
- Head teachers – £71,008
- Senior police officers – £66,690
- PR and communications directors – £72,887
- Clinical psychologists – £58,366
- Lawyers – £56,977
This means that train drivers earn around £5,000 more than head teachers and nearly £10,000 more than senior police officers.
Pay Surge Reflects Ongoing Negotiations and Labour Shortages
The sharp increase in driver pay follows a period of intense union negotiations and ongoing staff shortages across the UK rail sector. Analysts suggest that these factors have helped push wages to record levels, making train driving one of the most lucrative and secure career options in the country.
