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Driving instructor

Also called driving trainer, driving educator, teacher of driving

Driving instructors teach people the theory and practice on how to operate a vehicle safely and according to regulations. They assist students in developing the skills needed to drive and prepare them for the driving theory and the driving examination. They may also supervise driving examinations.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects26 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Personal service workersWhat does it pay?Below averageFrom about €900 (Bulgaria) to €3,900 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Personal service workersWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational6 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training. 6 in 10 train through vocational routes.Personal service workersWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Driving instructors · ILO

What you'd do

Driving instructors · ILO
  • Instructing students under actual driving conditions, and explaining and demonstrating the operation of brakes, clutch, gear selection, automatic transmission, signals and lights
  • Teaching road traffic regulations
  • Teaching road craft and road safety
  • Advising students when they are ready to undergo driving examination
  • Advising on and teaching advanced driving techniques required for emergency situations
  • Illustrating and explaining handling and mechanical operation of motor vehicles and driving techniques using blackboard diagrams and audiovisual aids
Teach driving practicesAdapt to new technology used in carsDiagnose problems with vehiclesEnsure vehicles are equipped with accessibility equipmentPark vehicles+ 13 more essential skills

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as personal service workers in the EU
10.21m10.63m10.46m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
3,074,000 replacing leavers 244,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Personal service workers26
All jobs29
Right now
7 of 27 countries report a shortage of driving instructors, 3 a surplus.
Driving instructors · EURES

What does it pay?

Below average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €900 a month (Bulgaria) to €3,900 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among service and sales workers in the EU, women earn 3% less per hour than men. Service and sales workers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training in motor vehicles, ships and aircraft is the usual route.

Highest qualification of personal service workers (EU, 2025)
Degree 15%Vocational 46%General secondary 16%Basic schooling 23%
Field that teaches it
Motor vehicles, ships and aircraft
Vocational route, EU
6 in 10 trainees in this field

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.20 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 6 tasks
Teaching road craft and road safety0.24
Teaching road traffic regulations0.23
Advising students when they are ready to undergo driving examination0.21
Advising on and teaching advanced driving techniques required for emergency situations0.20
Instructing students under actual driving conditions, and explaining and demonstrating the operation of brakes, clutch, gear selection, automatic transmission, signals and lights0.17
Illustrating and explaining handling and mechanical operation of motor vehicles and driving techniques using blackboard diagrams and audiovisual aids0.16

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for driving instructors. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).