The median wage is apparently around the £27,000 mark. This is slightly different to the average, but 50% of people earn more and 50% of people earn less. I think the average is kind of misleading because obviously the ones earning millions inflate this up.
To say you can get by on £38,000 (basic) without a commute is essentially saying you are amongst the elite in the country.
Looking at driving as a career to meet this kind of target is fraught with difficulties. On the one hand, drivers are earning over this, but usually not as part of a basic wage.
The way I think of it, the value a company puts on my work is reflected in the hourly rate offered for basic hours and how many hours a week the company considers basic hours is also a consideration.
Then, any additional money I earn causes me to devalue the rest of my life. Working weekends, nights, doing extra hours decreases my quality of life and potentially shortens my life expectancy. The compensation for this is pay.
I still consider my work to be valued at my basic wage and that is how I compare my wage to other professions.
I also always consider that I must be able to meet my required outgoings with my basic wage. Overtime is not guaranteed and a change of policy can mean that the rug can get pulled out at any time.