Subway and Streetcar Operators Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for subway and streetcar operators in the U.S. is $86,380 ($41.53 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $86,380
- Mean annual wage
- $77,170
- Median hourly wage
- $41.53
- Employment
- 10,200
10,200 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $55,180 | $26.53 |
| 25th percentile | $61,980 | $29.80 |
| Median (50th) | $86,380 | $41.53 |
| 75th percentile | $90,140 | $43.34 |
| 90th percentile | $90,140 | $43.34 |
Highest-paying states for subway and streetcar operators
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $92,420 | 480 |
| California | $78,680 | 900 |
| Washington | $77,020 | 320 |
| Florida | $72,860 | 130 |
| New Jersey | $68,970 | 140 |
| Minnesota | $65,410 | 140 |
| North Carolina | $62,590 | 110 |
| Virginia | $61,970 | — |
| Georgia | $59,570 | 300 |
| Texas | $58,780 | 240 |
Lowest-paying states
- Michigan: $41,710 median annual wage
- Missouri: $53,030 median annual wage
- Utah: $58,620 median annual wage
- Texas: $58,780 median annual wage
- Georgia: $59,570 median annual wage
About this occupation
Operate subway or elevated suburban trains with no separate locomotive, or electric-powered streetcar, to transport passengers. May handle fares.
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Attend meetings on driver and passenger safety to learn ways in which job performance might be affected.
- Regulate vehicle speed and the time spent at each stop to maintain schedules.
- Direct emergency evacuation procedures.
- Report delays, mechanical problems, and emergencies to supervisors or dispatchers, using radios.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 2.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 39.0% |
| Some college, no degree | 34.6% |
| Associate's degree | 9.0% |
| Bachelor's degree | 12.9% |
| Master's degree | 1.4% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.5% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.