Bus Driver
12NOT A FORECAST57%
A bus driver carries passengers safely along set routes, sticking to a timetable while handling fares and helping people on and off. It suits patient, reliable people who like being out and about, enjoy meeting the public and don't mind the responsibility of carrying a lot of passengers.
THE DOOR: ENTRY DIFFICULTY TODAY, graded A (easy) to E (extremely hard). A Careermash rule-of-thumb index built from our AI exposure index and the job's moat class. It is not a forecast and not a count of job openings.
AI EXPOSURE TODAY is a Careermash index from 0 to 100 of how exposed this job's everyday tasks are to AI today. We estimate it by matching published research on how people use AI to this job, usually by keyword or subject area, and we lower it where the work is protected (for example by physical, personal or legal requirements). It is not a direct measurement of how much people in this job use AI.
The job is driving the route safely and on time, taking fares or checking passes, helping passengers including older or disabled people, and staying calm in traffic and bad weather. Patience, good concentration and a friendly, even temper matter, as you deal with all sorts of passengers and busy roads all day.
Shifts often start very early or run late, including weekends and bank holidays, and a lot of the day is spent sitting and concentrating. Pay is usually a steady hourly or salaried wage that rises with experience, and the role comes with a clear set of rules on driving hours and breaks.
By law you need a PCV (Passenger Carrying Vehicle) licence and a Driver CPC qualification, which the bus company often helps you train for after you pass medical and background checks. You usually need to be over a minimum age and hold a full car licence first.