HGV Driver Salary in South West
Official ONS earnings for South West, covering 18,000 jobs.
Median salary — South West
£39,568
gross, per year, all employees
▲ 3.3% change on the previous year
Mean
£39,044
Jobs measured
18,000
What a typical hgv driver takes home
On the median of £39,568, 2026/27 tax year, England, Wales and Northern Ireland rates, no pension or student loan.
Take-home a month
£2,667
Take-home a year
£32,009
Income Tax
£5,400
National Insurance
£2,160
What most hgv drivers actually earn
Half of hgv drivers in South West earn between £22,487 and £39,713. Earning above £39,713 puts you in the top quarter of the profession.
ONS suppresses the detailed spread for this occupation at regional level, so this range describes the wider “Road Transport Drivers” group in South West.
The full pay range
Each bar is the salary at that percentile — the 25th means a quarter of hgv drivers earn less than this.
How South West ranks for hgv driver pay
3rd
of 9 GB regions with a published figure
London tops the table on £41,474 and Wales sits at the bottom on £37,476. South West is £1,906 short of the top.
Ranking compares published regional medians for the same occupation. It says nothing about cost of living — a higher median doesn't survive contact with rent. The cost of living calculator is the honest next step.
Where this figure comes from
- ONS occupation group
- Large goods vehicle drivers
- SOC 2020 code
- 8211
- Measure
- Gross annual pay, all employees
- Edition
- ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures are estimates from a survey of PAYE jobs and are not financial advice.
HGV Driver salary FAQs
What is the average HGV Driver salary in South West?
The median is £39,568 a year and the mean is £39,044, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings. Those cover all employees; ASHE publishes no full-time split at regional level.
How much does a hgv driver earn per hour?
Across the UK the median hourly rate is £16.00 excluding overtime. ASHE publishes hourly pay by occupation nationally only, so there is no separate rate for South West.
What is a good HGV Driver salary?
Half of hgv drivers earn between £22,487 and £39,713. Anything above £39,713 is in the top quarter for the role.
What is the starting salary for a hgv driver?
ASHE does not record experience, so there is no official starting salary. What it does show is that the lowest-paid 10% of hgv drivers earn under £11,668 and the lowest quarter under £22,487 — the range a new entrant is most likely to be offered.
Do hgv drivers in South West earn more than the UK average?
The median in South West is £39,568 against £39,141 across the UK, 1.1% higher, which places it 3rd highest of the 9 GB regions with a precise estimate.
Has hgv driver pay gone up in the last year?
ASHE puts the year-on-year change in the median at +3.3% for this occupation in South West. That compares the latest survey with the one before it and is not adjusted for inflation.
How many hgv drivers are there in South West?
ASHE counts around 18,000 employee jobs in “Large goods vehicle drivers” (SOC 8211) in South West. Self-employed work is not included.
Is this figure official?
Yes. It comes from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, an accredited official statistic based on employer PAYE records.
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