New research from Protectivity, based on government data, goes into where self employed people earn the most across the UK. The numbers show that Financial, Insurance and Real Estate Activities top the table, with an average annual income of £167,606. Legal and Accounting Activities follow at £166,071.
The average self employed income across all sectors is at £24,096. That means those working in finance, insurance and property earn more than seven times the UK average. The next highest earning sector, Human Health and Social Work Activities, reports £33,167, which is over £130,000 lower than the top two.
This matters for bus owners operating as sole traders. Corporate shuttle contracts with banks, law practices and estate agencies often attract higher fees than school transport or local authority routes. The gap in earnings across sectors is pretty evident, and transport businesses that align with higher paying clients stand to earn more.
Where Does Transport Rank For Income?
Transportation and Storage is near the bottom of the table, with an average annual income of £12,521. Education stands at £12,121 and Administrative and Support Service Activities at £11,492.
For bus owners, this means traditional passenger transport generates less than half the self employed average. Operators who rely only on school runs or standard contracts face tight margins. Small and medium sized businesses account for 99.8% of UK firms, according to government data referenced in the Protectivity analysis. Sole proprietorships make up 56% of all UK businesses, and 73,450 new businesses were added to the Inter Departmental Business Register in Q3 2025 alone. Competition in lower paying sectors is intense.
What Are The Top 5 Earning Self-Employed Sectors?
According to the government data analysed by Protectivity, these are the highest earning sectors for self employed workers in the UK…
- Financial, Insurance and Real Estate Activities: £167,606 average annual income
- Legal and Accounting Activities: £166,071
- Human Health and Social Work Activities: £33,167
- Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities: £32,128
- Arts, Entertainment and Recreation: £23,478
The difference between the top two and the rest is interesting. Health and social work earns over £130,000 less than finance and legal services on average.
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Why Are More People Working For Themselves?
Lawrie Jones, founder of multiple SMEs including Fly Above Fear, said, “I think people recognise how precarious the world of work is and that a great job at a huge company isn’t a guarantee of lifelong success and riches. Instead, you can have more fun, make more money, and have a better lifestyle while working for yourself, and who wouldn’t want that?
“It’s also cheaper and easier for people now to develop professional businesses from their kitchen table, lounge or bedroom and the barriers to starting a business are being broken down by technology, and that’s great.
“For me, I’ve worked in large organisations and there’s always a tendency for inertia. Great ideas can get lost, forgotten, or ignored inside a large bureaucracy. When you run your own business, you can develop ideas, invest in them, and (hopefully) see them succeed. If they fail, that’s on you, too. Working for yourself is inherently risky and with that, there’s stress, but the rewards and pay-offs are much higher too.”
Laura Bartlett, a four time business founder, said, “I’ve built businesses for 16 years because autonomy has always been my non-negotiable goal. Building your own company allows you to think critically and position yourself where the world is heading, rather than where it’s been.
“For me, true security comes from having full control over my future and not leaving my trajectory up to fate. When a business is structurally sound and aligned with a clear vision, survival isn’t the goal and sustainable growth is inevitable.”
Protectivity’s regional analysis also shows that the South West has the highest five year survival rate at 43.5%, compared with the UK average of 38.4%. For bus owners, earnings depend on sector choice, client base and how well risks are managed over time.
