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Taxi Driver salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a taxi driver is $54,600 per annum, before tax, up $11,300 since 2018.
What a taxi driver takes home depends heavily on how the car is arranged: drivers who lease a vehicle and plate pay a bailment fee before they keep anything, while those who own their plate keep more of the meter. Shift choice matters too, since Friday and Saturday nights and airport work carry more fares than a quiet weekday morning. Fares themselves are set by state regulation, so the meter rate is not something a driver negotiates.
Roles that pay more than taxi driver
The largest typical pay rise is $47,300 a year, moving into Truck Driver.
- Truck Driver+$47,300/yr
- Security Guard+$39,900/yr
- Bus Driver+$38,700/yr
How to negotiate a higher taxi driver salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time taxi driver salary is $54,600; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Driving and transport operations and Operations management tend to command a premium over general taxi driver experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Truck Driver pays a typical $47,300 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Taxi Driver salary questions
How much do taxi drivers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a taxi driver is $54,600 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is taxi driver pay rising or falling?
The median taxi driver salary is up $11,300 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than taxi driver?
Truck Driver pays a typical $47,300 a year more and draws on similar skills to taxi driver.