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Subway and Streetcar Operators: Career Overview
Operate subway or elevated suburban trains with no separate locomotive, or electric-powered streetcar, to transport passengers. May handle fares.
What Do Subway and Streetcar Operators Do?
The core tasks performed by subway and streetcar operators span:
- Monitor lights indicating obstructions or other trains ahead and watch for car and truck traffic at crossings to stay alert to potential hazards.
- Operate controls to open and close transit vehicle doors.
- Drive and control rail-guided public transportation, such as subways, elevated trains, and electric-powered streetcars, trams, or trolleys, to transport passengers.
- Report delays, mechanical problems, and emergencies to supervisors or dispatchers, using radios.
- Regulate vehicle speed and the time spent at each stop to maintain schedules.
- Make announcements to passengers, such as notifications of upcoming stops or schedule delays.
- Direct emergency evacuation procedures.
- Complete reports, including shift summaries and incident or accident reports.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective subway and streetcar operators rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Subway and Streetcar Operators Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Combined Rail Operator
- Electric Motorman
- Elevated Motorman
- Light Rail Operator
- Light Rail Train Operator
- Light Rail Transit Operator
- Light Rail Vehicle Operator (LRV Operator)
- Monorail Operator
Job Outlook
There are about 1,370,061 subway and streetcar operators working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to decline by -4.4% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Subway and Streetcar Operators Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $42,817 |
| Hourly median | $20.59 |
| 10th percentile | $24,964 |
| 25th percentile | $33,891 |
| 75th percentile | $51,744 |
| 90th percentile | $60,671 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Subway and Streetcar Operators Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $86,750 |
| Massachusetts | $84,820 |
| Maryland | $82,590 |
| California | $76,770 |
| New Jersey | $68,960 |
| Minnesota | $67,810 |
| Georgia | $58,500 |
| Utah | $57,200 |
| Texas | $57,200 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for subway and streetcar operators shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $84,820 | 20.8% | 3.75 |
| Middle Atlantic | $79,382 | 17.2% | 2.57 |
| Far Western US | $78,594 | 23.5% | 0.73 |
| Plains States | $67,810 | 3.3% | 0.72 |
| Southeast | $58,500 | 6.6% | 0.88 |
| Rocky Mountains | $57,200 | 22.8% | 8.81 |
| Southwest | $57,200 | 5.8% | 0.28 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Subway and Streetcar Operators
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $87,940 | 3,960 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $86,750 | 170 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $81,290 | 160 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $75,660 | 150 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $67,810 | 120 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | GA | $58,500 | 230 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | TX | $57,200 | 200 |
Top Industries Employing Subway and Streetcar Operators
Most subway and streetcar operators work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 440 | $54,250 |
Subway and Streetcar Operators work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for subway and streetcar operators tends to involve the following characteristics:
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
- Contact With Others
How to Become Subway and Streetcar Operators
Entry-level subway and streetcar operators positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Transit and Railroad Police (Supplemental)
- Crossing Guards and Flaggers (Supplemental)
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance (Supplemental)
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (Supplemental)
- Commercial Pilots (Supplemental)
- Air Traffic Controllers (Primary-Long)
- Airfield Operations Specialists (Supplemental)
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Future subway and streetcar operators commonly pursue programs in:
Transportation and Materials Moving
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 53-4041.00 (Subway and Streetcar Operators).
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