jobfacts

Driving instructor

Driving instructors — SOC 2020 8215

Driving instructors co-ordinate and undertake the instruction of people learning to drive cars, motorcycles, buses, fork-lifts and haulage vehicles.

Also calledCycling coachCycling instructorCycle instructorDriver-instructorMotor cycle instructorInstructorand 12 more titles
People in the job47,000across the UK
Demand for workersElevated
New adverts a month971↓ 3.1%on last year · 194th of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025
More than half (81%) of driving instructors work for themselves. These pay figures only cover employees, so they may not reflect what self-employed driving instructors earn.
Typical pay by regionUK median —
North West!£37,500
Scotland!£32,700
North EastNot published by ONS–
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS–
East MidlandsNot published by ONS–
West MidlandsNot published by ONS–
East of EnglandNot published by ONS–
LondonNot published by ONS–
South EastNot published by ONS–
South WestNot published by ONS–
WalesNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, —
North West£37,500 (small sample)
Scotland£32,700 (small sample)
North EastNot published by ONS
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS
East MidlandsNot published by ONS
West MidlandsNot published by ONS
East of EnglandNot published by ONS
LondonNot published by ONS
South EastNot published by ONS
South WestNot published by ONS
WalesNot published by ONS

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 971 jobs for driving instructors are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as elevated.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (4 in all)
Show as table
Aug 2026694
Jul 2026646
Jun 2026Not published
May 20261,123
Apr 20261,082
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 2026646
Jan 20262,288
Dec 2025244
Nov 2025684
Oct 20251,319
Sept 2025980
Aug 2025389
Jul 2025Not published
Jun 2025Not published
May 20251,665
Apr 20251,170
Mar 20252,428
Feb 20251,724
Jan 20251,438
Dec 2024101
Nov 20241,802
Oct 2024751
Sept 2024314
Aug 2024491
Jul 2024368
Jun 2024532
May 2024639
Apr 2024673
Mar 2024425
Feb 2024532
Jan 2024401
Dec 2023615
Nov 2023871
Oct 2023593
Sept 2023582
Aug 2023648
Jul 2023882
Jun 2023478
May 2023604
Apr 2023548
Mar 2023495
Feb 2023592
Jan 20231,045
Dec 20221,008
Nov 2022598
Oct 2022788
Sept 2022928
Aug 2022703
Jul 2022937
Jun 2022875
May 2022819
Apr 2022897
Mar 20221,802
Feb 2022754
Jan 2022959
Dec 20211,118
Nov 20211,316
Oct 2021933
Sept 20211,000
Aug 2021769
Jul 20211,259
Jun 2021765
May 20211,741
Apr 20211,055
Mar 20211,221
Feb 2021818
Jan 20211,606
Dec 2020868
Nov 2020687
Oct 20201,228
Sept 2020693
Aug 20201,436
Jul 2020278
Jun 2020364
May 2020479
Apr 2020244
Mar 20202,329
Feb 2020216
Jan 2020227
Dec 2019488
Nov 2019330
Oct 2019473
Sept 20191,627
Aug 2019294
Jul 2019372
Jun 2019519
May 2019292
Apr 2019284
Mar 2019159
Feb 2019243
Jan 2019461
Dec 2018348
Nov 2018827
Oct 2018960
Sept 2018748
Aug 2018740
Jul 2018652
Jun 2018726
May 20181,150
Apr 2018642
Mar 2018698
Feb 2018254
Jan 2018539
Dec 2017448
Nov 2017592
Oct 2017593
Sept 2017853
Aug 2017984
Jul 2017812
Jun 2017831
May 2017625
Apr 2017258
Mar 2017579
Feb 2017315
Jan 2017319
Is there a shortage of driving instructors?
Elevated

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment; in 2024 it was not high.

  • Visas grantedUsual
  • Online job advertsAbove usual
  • Wage growthAbove usual
  • Pay against similar jobsWell above usual
  • Hours workedUsual
Note: uncertain in multiple indicators: change in hourly wage, hours and earnings due to proportion of self employed workers.
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
25%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for road transport drivers, which includes driving instructors. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London106
Cornwall36
North Yorkshire33
Somerset29
Highland24
Wiltshire23
County Durham21
Northumberland21
Kirklees20
Leeds20
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where driving instructors are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. Fewer than 10 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
WomenToo few in the survey to give a reliable figure
Age of driving instructors
n/p
17%!
37%!
36%!
11%!
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publish
Show as table
25–34Not published
35–4417% (small sample)
45–5437% (small sample)
55–6436% (small sample)
65+11% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent!18%
Higher education below degree!8.3%
A levels or equivalent38%
GCSEs or equivalent26%
Other qualifications!13%
No qualifications–
Not published
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent18% (small sample)
Higher education below degree8.3% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent38%
GCSEs or equivalent26%
Other qualifications13% (small sample)
No qualificationsNot published

Main employers: driving school activities (78%), other education nec (4%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
18%
as their highest qualification
Most common qualification
A levels or equivalent
held by 38%
Apprenticeships
1
from level 2
Apprenticeships take
18 months
typically
Self-employed
81%
of people in the job

Routes in

Driving instructor

You can get into this job by doing an instructor course with a commercial training organisation.

Other routes

Your first step is to check if you can apply to become an approved driving instructor.

The next stage is to find a training provider on the Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) register.

You'll need to pass the approved driving instructor part 1 and part 2 exams. If successful, you can get a 6-month licence that allows you to train learner drivers and legally charge for lessons.

You must then pass the part 3 exam to fully qualify as an instructor and get onto the ADI register.

What you’ll need

  • pass motoring conviction checks
  • pass enhanced background checks
  • be able to read a licence plate at 90 feet or 27.5m, with glasses or contact lenses if worn
  • have a full UK or EU driving licence, held for at least 3 years
  • be over 21 years of age

be able to read a licence plate at 90 feet or 27.5m, with glasses or contact lenses if worn

Registration and professional bodies

Registration
  • you have to join the Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) register to charge learner drivers for lessons, and renew your registration every 4 years
Career tips

You would normally charge for lessons by the hour, so your salary will depend on how many hours you work and the demand for training in your area.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join a driving instructor association to keep up to date with industry news and for support with professional development.

Further information

You can find out more on how to become a driving instructor on GOV.UK.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for driving instructor. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Cycling coach

You can get into this job through:

University

You could take a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

  • sports coaching and development
  • sports and exercise science
  • sports studies

You could combine your studies with part-time or voluntary work at your local cycling club.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship with a sports and leisure organisation, such as:

  • Community Activator Coach Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Sports Coach Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Other ways in

Volunteering

You can develop your coaching skills by volunteering with a cycling club.

British Cycling has details about how to get involved with coaching classes and cycling events.

There are opportunities in road and track racing, BMX and mountain biking.

Other routes

You can take training to gain your coaching qualifications through a professional body like British Cycling.

They offer training from introductory level onwards in several forms of cycling, for example:

  • off-road biking
  • BMX racing and freestyling
  • road and track racing

Bursaries or grants may be available to help you train as a cycling coach.

What you’ll need

  • pass enhanced background checks
  • have insurance
  • have a first aid certificate
  • be over 18 years of age

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

Pay can vary, depending on how many hours you're contracted to work each week. There may be more part-time opportunities in the earlier stages of your career.

Salaries will be higher for coaches working at professional and elite levels in cycling.

Further information

You can find out more about how to become a cycling coach and coaching qualifications from British Cycling and Cycling UK.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for cycling coach. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

1 for this job

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • checks instruction and learning standards and discusses teaching plans with other instructors
  • plans lessons in accordance with the needs and abilities of individual pupils
  • explains driving techniques and assists pupil with difficulties
  • familiarises pupil with the Highway Code and different road and traffic conditions
  • advises pupil when to apply for theoretical and practical driving tests and familiarises them with test procedures and standards

Skills

  • adapt teaching to student's capabilities
  • adapt to new technology used in cars
  • apply teaching strategies
  • assist students in their learning
  • control the performance of the vehicle
  • diagnose problems with vehicles
  • drive vehicles
  • encourage students to acknowledge their achievements
  • ensure vehicle operability
  • ensure vehicles are equipped with accessibility equipment
  • give constructive feedback
  • guarantee students' safety
  • interpret traffic signals
  • monitor developments in field of expertise

Knowledge

  • curriculum objectives
  • health and safety measures in transportation
  • mechanical components of vehicles
  • road traffic laws
  • adult education
  • car controls
  • customer service
  • driver's license structure

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for transport and mobile machine drivers and operatives, a group of 14 jobs that includes driving instructors.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 6.7%about 80,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 2035748,000including people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

jobfacts is independent. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education, Skills England, the National Careers Service, the Home Office, the European Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor.