The UK has seen significant demand for HGV drivers in recent years, with salary prospects, job availability, and cost of living varying widely across the country. To help drivers determine the most attractive locations to pursue their careers, a new study from Breakwells Transport has ranked the best cities for HGV drivers based on salaries, job opportunities, and living costs. Using thousands of salary reports from Indeed, job availability data, and cost-of-living statistics, the study reveals where drivers can get the best value for their efforts.
Top 5 Cities for HGV Drivers
London – Score: 7.96/10
As the UK’s capital, London offers unmatched salary opportunities with an average HGV driver salary of £44,311. While living costs are higher, 33.6% of a driver’s income typically goes toward non-rent expenses, leaving a significant portion of earnings available.
Bristol – Score: 6.42/10
Bristol combines high salaries (£41,122) with excellent job availability and manageable living costs. Drivers spend just 28.8% of their income on living expenses, allowing them to retain more of their earnings compared to other cities.
Birmingham – Score: 6.29/10
The bustling Midlands hub provides a strong job market for HGV drivers, with an average salary of £40,250 and a high number of vacancies. With only 27.7% of income spent on living costs, drivers in Birmingham benefit from a favourable balance between earnings and expenses.
Reading – Score: 6.22/10
Drivers in Reading enjoy above-average salaries (£42,337) and a favourable cost-of-living ratio, spending just 26.8% of their monthly income on expenses.
Liverpool – Score: 6.06/10
Liverpool provides competitive salaries (£42,042) and a thriving job market. With only 27.2% of income typically allocated to living expenses, drivers can enjoy a good standard of living in this vibrant city.
Other Standout Cities:
Coventry scored 5.63/10 thanks to its high average salary (£40,750) and a low percentage of income (27.1%) spent on living costs
Glasgow, with its vibrant economy and growing logistics sector, achieved a score of 5.30/10, with drivers spending 31.3% of their income on essentials
Stoke-on-Trent stood out for its affordability, where only 24.7% of monthly income goes toward living expenses, the lowest in the study
Methodology
The rankings are based on three factors:
- Salary Score – Average annual salary reported by drivers
- Opportunity Score – Number of job openings for HGV drivers in each city
- Cost of Living Score – The percentage of income spent on average monthly living costs (excluding rent)
Each factor was scored out of 10, and an overall score was calculated for each city.