3 S'pore public bus operators offering up to S$20,000 sign-on bonuses for bus drivers

As Singapore's public bus industry continues to grapple with the challenge of attracting locals to take up roles as bus drivers, bus operators have decided to offer sizeable sign-on bonuses.

According to Lianhe Zaobao, the three bus operators SBS Transit, SMRT and Go-Ahead Singapore are offering sign-on bonuses of up to S$20,000 to Singaporeans and permanent residents.

Tower Transit, another local bus operator, is offering a S$7,200 bonus to applicants who are new to the industry, or who have not driven buses for at least a year.

In a written parliamentary reply to a question from Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh, Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow said in October 2025 that out of the 9,700 bus captains in 2024, only 28 per cent are Singaporeans.

Permanent residents accounted for 15 per cent, while foreign work pass holders made up the remaining 57 per cent.

Sign-on bonuses

SBS Transit, Singapore's largest public bus operator with about 5,400 full-time drivers, has been offering a sign-on bonus of up to S$20,000 since October 2024, Zaobao reported.

However, applicants have to meet certain criteria.

They have to be Singapore citizens or permanent residents, hold at least a Class 3 driving licence and have more than one year of driving experience.

SBS Transit is also offering S$1,000 for successful job referrals.

Similarly, Go-Ahead Singapore is offering a sign-on bonus of S$20,000 on top of a monthly salary of up to S$4,200.

The company, which will take over 27 bus routes in Tampines from Jul. 5, said it has expanded its workforce to about 2,000 employees and is recruiting around 300 bus captains to support future operations at the East Coast Integrated Depot (ECID).

In a job advertisement shared on Facebook on Jan. 14, SMRT also said it is offering a S$20,000 sign-on bonus to Singaporeans and permanent residents, with monthly pay of up to S$4,000, subject to terms and conditions.

SMRT told Zaobao that it continues to face difficulties hiring local bus captains and has doubled the sign-on bonus compared to 2025 to attract and retain talent.

Beyond sign-on bonuses, operators are also enhancing salary packages, benefits and working arrangements.

Depending on experience, SBS Transit drivers can earn a base monthly salary ranging from S$2,230 to S$4,900, while Tower Transit’s base salary for train drivers starts from S$2,270.

These figures exclude overtime pay and allowances.

All four operators also offer flexible work arrangements, including shorter workdays and part-time options.

For female drivers with children under 13, SBS Transit provides additional benefits to help offset childcare costs, while Go-Ahead Singapore offers childcare reimbursement benefits.

Employee well-being

Operators also focus on employee well-being.

According to Zaobao, Tower Transit provides monthly on-site services such as haircuts, massages, cupping and acupuncture at depots and interchanges.

Go-Ahead Singapore will also be setting up a gym and lounge at ECID for its staff to rest and unwind.

Career progression is another draw.

According to SBS Transit, its drivers can advance to roles such as chief conductor, service supervisor, depot mentor or trainer, or move into other departments including bus interchanges, monitoring centres and depots.

Likewise, SMRT said it offers long-term career development and promotion pathways, noting that many senior drivers stay on due to both competitive pay and job satisfaction, as well as a supportive workplace culture.

The other operators also highlighted staff retention and corporate culture.

Tower Transit, which won the Operational and Workplace Safety Award (Excellence) twice, said its first driver, who was hired in 2015, has remained with the company till this day.

Top photos from SBS Transit/Facebook and SMRT/Facebook