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Train operator: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$86,380median pay per year, or $41.53 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $55,180lowest 10% earn less
  2. $61,98025th percentile
  3. $86,380median
  4. $90,14075th percentile
  5. $90,140top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Train operators, which BLS counts as subway and streetcar operators, earned a median of $86,380 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 3.7% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3.7%[2]
Openings per year
900[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do train operators make?

The median wage for subway and streetcar operators was $86,380 a year, or $41.53 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. For all occupations, the median was $50,980[4].

The average was lower, at $77,170 a year or $37.10 an hour[7].

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[3][8] $55,180 $26.53
25th[3][8] $61,980 $29.80
Median[1] $86,380 $41.53
75th[3][8] $90,140 $43.34
90th[3][8] $90,140 $43.34

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $55,180[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

These figures cover wage and salary workers, part-time and full-time. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10].

Pay by state and city

Among the 13 states with published data, Maryland had the top median at $92,420, followed by California at $78,680 and Washington at $77,020[11]. Michigan had the lowest listed median at $41,710[11].

Utah had the most jobs at 970, then California with 900, Maryland with 480, Washington with 320 and Georgia with 300[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, New York-Newark-Jersey City had the highest median at $90,140, then Baltimore-Columbia-Towson at $84,350 and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue at $77,020[13]. The New York area also had the most jobs, 3,950[14]. Seattle came next with 320[14].

Show median pay in 13 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Maryland[11]$92,420480
California$78,680900
Washington$77,020320
Florida$72,860130
New Jersey$68,970140
Minnesota$65,410140
North Carolina$62,590110
Virginia$61,970n/a
Georgia$59,570300
Texas$58,780240
Utah$58,620970
Missouri$53,03070
Michigan$41,71040

How to become a train operator

BLS describes the typical path like this[6]:

In an ONET survey of 34 workers, 87% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required, and 9% said a post-secondary certificate[15]. ONET places the job in a group where some jobs need little experience and others need several months to a year[16].

What train operators do

Train operators drive subway or elevated trains with no separate locomotive, or electric streetcars, to carry passengers[17]. Some also handle fares[17]. Common tasks include[18]:

Job titles reported by workers include light rail operator, streetcar operator and rapid transit operator[19].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 3.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 10,500 to 10,900 jobs[2]. Growth for all occupations is projected at 3.5%[20]. These counts include self-employed workers[2]. The OEWS count for May 2025 was about 10,200 wage and salary jobs[21].

BLS expects about 900 openings a year on average[5]. Openings come from retirements and moves to other occupations as well as new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.3% of workers leave the labor force and 4.8% move to a different occupation[22].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show pay well above the all-occupation median[1][4], and entry requires a high school diploma with no related experience[6]. Training is on the job and rated moderate-term[6]. The occupation is small, with about 10,200 wage and salary jobs[21] and about 900 openings a year[5]. Jobs cluster in a few places, and the New York area alone had 3,950[14]. Check what is hiring near you before planning around it.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[23].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a train operator make an hour?
The median was $41.53 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $37.10[1][7].
What education do you need to be a train operator?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[6].
Is train operator a growing job?
BLS projects 3.7% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][20].
What is the highest paying state for train operators?
Maryland had the highest median, $92,420, among 13 states with published data[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Subway and Streetcar Operators in the US was $86,380 per year and $41.53 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Subway and Streetcar Operators is projected to grow 3.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 10,500 to 10,900 jobs (a change of +400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Subway and Streetcar Operators: 10th percentile $55,180, 25th percentile $61,980, 75th percentile $90,140, 90th percentile $90,140. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 900 openings for Subway and Streetcar Operators are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Subway and Streetcar Operators: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Subway and Streetcar Operators was $77,170 per year and $37.10 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Subway and Streetcar Operators: 10th percentile $26.53, 25th percentile $29.80, 75th percentile $43.34, 90th percentile $43.34. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Subway and Streetcar Operators in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Subway and Streetcar Operators jobs: Utah 970; California 900; Maryland 480; Washington 320; Georgia 300. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Subway and Streetcar Operators (areas with at least 100 jobs): New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $90,140; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $84,350; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $77,020; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $69,680; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $60,970; Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $59,570. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Subway and Streetcar Operators jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 3,950 (median $90,140); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 320 (median $77,020); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 270 (median $59,570); San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 200 (median $60,970); Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 150 (median $84,350); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 130 (median $69,680). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. O*NET 53-4041.00 survey of workers (34 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 87%, Post-Secondary Certificate 9% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  16. O*NET 53-4041.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET description of Subway and Streetcar Operators. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET task list for Subway and Streetcar Operators. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET 53-4041.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Combined Rail Operator, Light Rail Operator, Light Rail Train Operator, Light Rail Vehicle Operator (LRV Operator), Rail Operator, Rapid Transit Operator (RTO), Streetcar Operator, Train Operator. O*NET OnLine
  20. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  21. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 10,200 people were employed as Subway and Streetcar Operators in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  22. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Subway and Streetcar Operators: 3.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  23. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.