Subway and Streetcar Operators
Subway and Streetcar Operators (SOC 53-4041) earn a median $86,380 a year ($41.53 an hour) in the United States, with 10,200 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Maryland.
What subway and streetcar operators do
Subway and streetcar operators drive rail-guided passenger vehicles on city transit systems: subways, elevated trains, and electric-powered streetcars, trams, or trolleys. Unlike a freight locomotive, these trains have no separate engine, as the powered cars carry the passengers. The operator opens and closes doors at stations, controls speed and the time spent at each stop to hold the schedule, and watches signals and lights that warn of obstructions or trains ahead. The operator must also watch for car and truck traffic at crossings to stay alert to hazards. Announcements to riders give upcoming stops and delays. When something goes wrong, the operator reports delays, mechanical trouble, and emergencies to supervisors or dispatchers by radio, directs emergency evacuation procedures, and completes shift summaries and incident or accident reports. Handling fares is listed as an additional duty some operators may have.
Typical entry: O*NET reports that most workers in this occupation have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Also called: Combined Rail Operator, Electric Motorman, Elevated Motorman, Light Rail Operator, Light Rail Train Operator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $26.53 | $29.80 | $41.53 | $43.34 | $43.34 | $37.10 | 10,200 |
| Annual | $55,180 | $61,980 | $86,380 | $90,140 | $90,140 | $77,170 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where subway and streetcar operators earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $31.17 | $40.56 | $44.43 | $44.43 | $44.43 | $40.77 | 480 | 0.17 | 2.65 |
| Annual | $64,830 | $84,350 | $92,420 | $92,420 | $92,420 | $84,800 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $27.73 | $32.12 | $37.83 | $37.83 | $43.66 | $35.92 | 900 | 0.05 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $57,680 | $66,820 | $78,680 | $78,680 | $90,810 | $74,720 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $31.39 | $31.39 | $37.03 | $44.72 | $44.72 | $37.61 | 320 | 0.09 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $65,290 | $65,290 | $77,020 | $93,010 | $93,010 | $78,220 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $22.00 | $28.57 | $35.03 | $35.03 | $35.03 | $32.17 | 130 | 0.01 | 0.20 |
| Annual | $45,760 | $59,420 | $72,860 | $72,860 | $72,860 | $66,910 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $31.54 | $31.56 | $33.16 | $35.36 | $35.88 | $33.97 | 140 | 0.03 | 0.50 |
| Annual | $65,600 | $65,630 | $68,970 | $73,550 | $74,640 | $70,650 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Utah | Hourly | $25.75 | $28.19 | $28.19 | $28.89 | $29.34 | $28.00 | 970 | 0.56 | 8.48 |
| Annual | $53,560 | $58,620 | $58,620 | $60,080 | $61,020 | $58,240 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $27.73 | $32.12 | $37.83 | $37.83 | $43.66 | $35.92 | 900 | 0.05 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $57,680 | $66,820 | $78,680 | $78,680 | $90,810 | $74,720 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $31.17 | $40.56 | $44.43 | $44.43 | $44.43 | $40.77 | 480 | 0.17 | 2.65 |
| Annual | $64,830 | $84,350 | $92,420 | $92,420 | $92,420 | $84,800 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $31.39 | $31.39 | $37.03 | $44.72 | $44.72 | $37.61 | 320 | 0.09 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $65,290 | $65,290 | $77,020 | $93,010 | $93,010 | $78,220 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $21.46 | $25.96 | $28.64 | $28.64 | $28.64 | $26.61 | 300 | 0.06 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $44,630 | $53,990 | $59,570 | $59,570 | $59,570 | $55,350 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $43.34 | $43.34 | $43.34 | $43.34 | $43.34 | $43.15 | 3,950 | 0.42 | 6.34 |
| Annual | $90,140 | $90,140 | $90,140 | $90,140 | $90,140 | $89,750 | ||||
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Hourly | $34.78 | $40.56 | $40.56 | $40.56 | $40.56 | $38.72 | 150 | 0.11 | 1.70 |
| Annual | $72,330 | $84,350 | $84,350 | $84,350 | $84,350 | $80,530 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $31.39 | $31.39 | $37.03 | $44.72 | $44.72 | $37.61 | 320 | 0.15 | 2.31 |
| Annual | $65,290 | $65,290 | $77,020 | $93,010 | $93,010 | $78,220 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $31.45 | $31.45 | $33.50 | $33.50 | $33.50 | $32.76 | 130 | 0.07 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $65,410 | $65,410 | $69,680 | $69,680 | $69,680 | $68,140 | ||||
| St. Louis, MO-IL | Hourly | $22.56 | $25.49 | $30.31 | $30.31 | $30.31 | $28.20 | 40 | 0.03 | 0.46 |
| Annual | $46,930 | $53,030 | $63,030 | $63,030 | $63,030 | $58,660 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $43.34 | $43.34 | $43.34 | $43.34 | $43.34 | $43.15 | 3,950 | 0.42 | 6.34 |
| Annual | $90,140 | $90,140 | $90,140 | $90,140 | $90,140 | $89,750 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $31.39 | $31.39 | $37.03 | $44.72 | $44.72 | $37.61 | 320 | 0.15 | 2.31 |
| Annual | $65,290 | $65,290 | $77,020 | $93,010 | $93,010 | $78,220 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $21.46 | $28.59 | $28.64 | $28.64 | $28.64 | $27.05 | 270 | 0.09 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $44,630 | $59,460 | $59,570 | $59,570 | $59,570 | $56,270 | ||||
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Hourly | $27.73 | $29.31 | $29.31 | $37.03 | $37.03 | $32.55 | 200 | 0.13 | 2.01 |
| Annual | $57,680 | $60,970 | $60,970 | $77,030 | $77,030 | $67,700 | ||||
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Hourly | $34.78 | $40.56 | $40.56 | $40.56 | $40.56 | $38.72 | 150 | 0.11 | 1.70 |
| Annual | $72,330 | $84,350 | $84,350 | $84,350 | $84,350 | $80,530 | ||||
Top industries employing subway and streetcar operators
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) employ 79.3% of subway and streetcar operators nationally (8,090 jobs) at a median $90,140 a year ($43.34 an hour), followed by State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (12.2%) and Urban Transit Systems (7.2%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 8,090 | 79.3% | $90,140 | $43.34 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 1,240 | 12.2% | $80,230 | $38.57 |
| Urban Transit Systems NAICS 485100 | 730 | 7.2% | $55,410 | $26.64 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions NAICS 712100 | 60 | 0.6% | $46,680 | $22.44 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (10,200). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $81,180 for subway and streetcar operators in May 2021 and $86,380 in May 2025, with employment of 10,310 and 10,200.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $81,180 | $39.03 | 10,310 |
| May 2022 | $88,260 | $42.43 | 9,120 |
| May 2023 | $84,270 | $40.51 | 14,860 |
| May 2024 | $84,830 | $40.78 | 9,200 |
| May 2025 | $86,380 | $41.53 | 10,200 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
13 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland profile | $44.43 | $92,420 | $64,830 | $92,420 | 480 | 0.17 | 2.65 |
| 2 | California profile | $37.83 | $78,680 | $57,680 | $90,810 | 900 | 0.05 | 0.75 |
| 3 | Washington profile | $37.03 | $77,020 | $65,290 | $93,010 | 320 | 0.09 | 1.36 |
| 4 | Florida profile | $35.03 | $72,860 | $45,760 | $72,860 | 130 | 0.01 | 0.20 |
| 5 | New Jersey profile | $33.16 | $68,970 | $65,600 | $74,640 | 140 | 0.03 | 0.50 |
| 6 | Minnesota profile | $31.45 | $65,410 | $65,410 | $69,680 | 140 | 0.05 | 0.70 |
| 7 | North Carolina profile | $30.09 | $62,590 | $46,680 | $73,710 | 110 | 0.02 | 0.33 |
| 8 | Virginia profile | $29.80 | $61,970 | $47,200 | $72,290 | ** | ** | ** |
| 9 | Georgia profile | $28.64 | $59,570 | $44,630 | $59,570 | 300 | 0.06 | 0.93 |
| 10 | Texas profile | $28.26 | $58,780 | $46,570 | $58,780 | 240 | 0.02 | 0.26 |
| 11 | Utah profile | $28.19 | $58,620 | $53,560 | $61,020 | 970 | 0.56 | 8.48 |
| 12 | Missouri profile | $25.49 | $53,030 | $37,990 | $63,030 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.37 |
| 13 | Michigan profile | $20.05 | $41,710 | $34,580 | $59,430 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.13 |
Part of Transportation and Material Moving Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 53-4041 Subway and Streetcar Operators.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 53-4041, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 53-4041.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.