What are the salaries of public transport drivers in Ukraine in 2026
The shortage of public transport drivers remains one of the main problems in Ukrainian cities in 2026. Municipal enterprises promise salaries of up to UAH 54,000, but the actual income of drivers often proves to be lower due to taxes and the need to work overtime. This is reported by Delo.ua.
Drivers' salaries in Kyiv significantly differ from official figures
In Kyiv's public transport, official salaries for drivers look quite high. According to Kyivpastrans, bus drivers earn an average of UAH 54,137, trolleybus drivers UAH 44,848, and tram drivers UAH 39,549.
However, these amounts are stated before taxes. After deducting personal income tax, military tax, and other contributions, employees actually receive approximately 20-22% less.
As a result, a salary of UAH 44,000 turns into about UAH 34,000-36,000 'in hand'. In addition, high incomes often require overtime work.
Bus drivers have the highest salaries
The highest actual incomes today are received by bus drivers. Some employees work up to 400 hours a month, going on two consecutive shifts.
Due to this, salary levels fluctuate significantly:
- From UAH 20,000 - for drivers with a basic load.
- Up to UAH 75,000 - with a large number of overtime hours.
- On average - around UAH 30,000-40,000.
At the same time, the hourly rate in bus depots is lower than in trolleybus transport.
Salaries of trolleybus and tram drivers depend on class and equipment
A class III trolleybus driver with a standard norm of 180 hours a month can earn about UAH 20,000. Class I drivers on large 18-meter trolleybuses earn up to UAH 32,000.
To reach an income of about UAH 40,000, one has to work overtime - up to 200-210 hours a month.
In the tram depot, the average salary is about UAH 30,000. Drivers with additional shifts can earn UAH 40,000-50,000, while lower class workers earn about UAH 20,000.
The level of payment is also influenced by the type of wagons. Working on modern trams like PESA or 'Electron' is paid higher than on old Tatra wagons.
It should be noted that due to a shortage of personnel, transport enterprises in many cities of Ukraine continue to actively search for new employees and raise the wage level.
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