Starting pay of new local bus captains to go up by S$450 from 2027

Starting January 2027, the starting monthly salary of new local bus captains will increase by S$450, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced on Jun. 3, 2026.

This will be accompanied by a S$2,000 increase in the first-year sign-on bonuses.

Bus operators have also collectively agreed to make a one-time adjustment to the salaries of all in-service bus captains, LTA also said.

The announcement was made in a joint news release with the major bus operators and the National Transport Workers' Union (NTWU).

Average monthly salary increases to more than S$4,000

The increments, funded by the government, are meant to attract more local bus captains and are implemented in consultation with the National Transport Workers' Union, LTA said.

With the increments to the starting salary and first year of sign-on bonus for new local bus captains, LTA estimated that most local bus captains can earn S$600 more per month in their first year of service.

Taking into account increases to the basic pay, overtime, allowances and bonuses, the average monthly salaries of new local bus captains will effectively increase to more than S$4,000, according to LTA.

One-time salary adjustment for in-service bus captains

The bus operators — SBS Transit, Go-Ahead Singapore, Tower Transit and SMRT — have also collectively agreed with the NTWU to make a one-time adjustment to the salaries of all in-service bus captains.

This is to manage "wage relativity, improve retention and recognise the contributions of in-service bus captains", LTA said.

The bus operators will also continue to improve the attractiveness and safety of the bus captain role, such as by reducing split-shift assignments and shortening continuous driving time on long bus routes, LTA added.

Strong pipeline of captains needed to deliver enhancements: LTA

LTA explained that a "strong pipeline of bus captains" is needed to deliver bus connectivity enhancements and sustain essential public bus services.

Since the launch of the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme in July 2024, there have been 33 new or extended bus routes and improvements to over 60 existing services, LTA noted.

However, the bus captain workforce is ageing.

For every local bus captain recruited, two are leaving the industry due to resignation or retirement, according to LTA.

The proportion of local bus captains has also declined from 54 per cent in 2021 to 41 per cent in 2025.

Commitment to take care of public transport workers: Jeffrey Siow

On the announced starting pay and sign-on bonus adjustments, Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow said that they reflect "our commitment to take care of our public transport workers".

"A larger pool of bus captains will also allow us to improve working conditions, including shift arrangements, and make bus driving a more sustainable career," Siow commented.

Siow had previously shared in a parliamentary written reply in February 2026 that the government was reviewing the starting salary of bus captains.

In March, Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Member of Parliament Yeo Wan Ling, who is also NTWU's Executive Secretary, shared during her remarks in Parliament that the starting basic salary of new bus captains was around S$2,250.

A significant amount of income depends on overtime, Yeo said at the time.

The major bus operators had also previously announced a S$20,000 sign-on bonus for Singaporeans and permanent residents.