Subway and Streetcar Operators Salary
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · 10K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$86,380
Median hourly
$42
Average annual
$77,170
Typical range
$55,180–$90,140
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Subway and Streetcar Operators is $86,380 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $42 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Operate subway or elevated suburban trains with no separate locomotive, or electric-powered streetcar, to transport passengers. May handle fares..
Most earn between $55,180 and $90,140 a year. There are roughly 10K people employed as subway and streetcar operators in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Subway and Streetcar Operators.
- Hourly
- $41.53
- Daily
- $332
- Weekly
- $1,661
- Bi-weekly
- $3,322
- Monthly
- $7,198
- Annual
- $86,380
$86,380 a year is around the 50th percentile for Subway and Streetcar Operatorss. The median is $86,380.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Maryland$92,420
- 2California$78,680
- 3Washington$77,020
- 4Florida$72,860
- 5New Jersey$68,970
- 6Minnesota$65,410
- 7North Carolina$62,590
- 8Virginia$61,970
- 9Georgia$59,570
- 10Texas$58,780
- 11Utah$58,620
- 12Missouri$53,030
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$90,140
- 2Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$84,350
- 3Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$77,020
- 4Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$69,680
- 5St. Louis, MO-IL$63,030
- 6Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$61,980
- 7San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$60,970
- 8Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$59,570
Related job titles
Employers advertise Subway and Streetcar Operators roles under these titles.
- Combined Rail Operator
- Electric Motorman
- Elevated Motorman
- Light Rail Operator
- Light Rail Train Operator
- Light Rail Transit Operator
- Light Rail Vehicle Operator (LRV Operator)
- Rail Operator
- Rail Transit Operator
- Rapid Transit Operator (RTO)
- Service Vehicle Operator
- Shuttle Route Vehicle Operator
- Streetcar Motorman
- Streetcar Operator
- Subway Conductor
- Subway Train Driver
Related occupations
- Locomotive Engineers$81,410
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$78,000
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$59,050
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers$68,840
- Taxi Drivers$42,100
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers$60,600
- Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$37,290
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,640
What a Subway and Streetcar Operators does
- 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.
- Greet passengers, provide information, and answer questions concerning fares, schedules, transfers, and routings.
- 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.
- Complete reports, including shift summaries and incident or accident reports.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Subway and Streetcar Operators make?
- The median annual wage for Subway and Streetcar Operators is $86,380 ($42 per hour). Pay ranges from about $55,180 at the 10th percentile to $90,140 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Subway and Streetcar Operators?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $77,170, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Subway and Streetcar Operatorss the most?
- Maryland has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $92,420.
- Is Subway and Streetcar Operators a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 10K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Subway and Streetcar Operators do?
- 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..