HGV DRIVER SALARY CALCULATOR UK - WHAT COULD YOU EARN?

WHAT COULD YOU EARN?

Pick your licence type, shift pattern, weekly hours, and how long you’ve been driving. We’ll give you a realistic idea of what you could be earning. These aren’t made-up numbers, they’re based on actual agency rates across the UK.

HGV SALARY CALCULATOR

Adjust the options below to estimate your earnings.

Estimated Hourly Rate
£17/hr
Estimated Annual
£35,500
Weekly Take-Home
~£540

Includes basic HMRC tax estimate. Tramping includes £26.20/night HMRC-approved night-out allowance.

The HGV driver salary calculator above gives you a realistic earnings estimate based on your licence type, typical weekly hours, and years of experience. Figures are drawn from agency pay data across the UK and updated regularly to reflect current market rates.

As a general guide, Category C (rigid) drivers in the UK typically earn between £28,000 and £38,000 per year on permanent contracts, or £14–£18 per hour through agencies. Category C+E (Class 1 artic) commands a premium, most experienced drivers earn £34,000–£48,000, with specialist roles like ADR and tanker pushing higher still.

Agency work often pays more per hour than permanent employment, but comes without holiday pay or guaranteed hours. Most drivers registered with HGV Connect use the salary calculator to benchmark offers before accepting a contract.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR PAY

After 12 weeks in the same assignment, you’re legally entitled to the same basic pay as the permanent staff doing the same job. That includes pay rates, rest periods, and annual leave. A lot of drivers don’t realise this. If you’ve been somewhere 3 months and you’re still on a lower rate than the permanent lads, it might be worth having a word.

AVERAGE HGV PAY BY UK REGION

Salaries vary across the UK, London and the South East consistently pay the most, but the gap has narrowed since 2021. Use this as a reference alongside the calculator above.

RegionCat C (Rigid) AnnualCat C+E (Artic) AnnualAgency Day Rate
London & South East£34,000 – £42,000£40,000 – £50,000£155 – £210
East of England£30,000 – £38,000£36,000 – £46,000£140 – £185
Midlands£29,000 – £37,000£34,000 – £44,000£130 – £175
North West£28,000 – £36,000£33,000 – £43,000£125 – £170
Yorkshire & Humber£27,000 – £35,000£32,000 – £42,000£120 – £165
North East£26,000 – £34,000£31,000 – £40,000£115 – £158
Scotland£27,000 – £36,000£32,000 – £43,000£120 – £168
Wales£26,000 – £34,000£30,000 – £40,000£115 – £155
South West£27,000 – £35,000£32,000 – £42,000£120 – £162

Figures represent typical 2025 market rates. ADR, tanker, and specialist roles command a further 10–20% premium above these baselines.

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