How to become a Passenger Coach Driver
Drives a coach to transport passengers long distances on scheduled intercity services over established routes.
Main tasks
- Drives a coach to transport passengers on scheduled services
- Adheres to established routes and schedules
- Assists passengers with boarding and disembarking the coach
- Collects fares, issues tickets to passengers, and monitors an automated ticketing machine
- Provides information and assistance to passengers regarding routes, schedules and destinations
- Communicates with dispatch or control centre to report any delays or incidents
- Adheres to road safety regulations and legislation, including the completion of relevant log books
Ways in
- TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Travel (SIT30222); Diploma of Bus and Coach Operations (TLI50716)
- Licence or registration: Registration or licensing is required.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Typical full-time pay: $93,340 a year
- About 40,200 people work in this job group now, and about 44,000 are projected by 2035. (+9.2%)
- AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Passenger Coach Driver?
Ways in include: Certificate III in Travel; Diploma of Bus and Coach Operations.
How much does a Passenger Coach Driver earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $93,340 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is a Passenger Coach Driver a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 9% by 2035, from about 40,200 to about 44,000 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become a Passenger Coach Driver?
Usually not. Only 9% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Travel; Diploma of Bus and Coach Operations.
Will AI change the work of a Passenger Coach Driver?
AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04
Updated 2026-10-04