Subway and Streetcar Operators salary in the U.S.
Subway and Streetcar Operators in the U.S. earn a median of $86,380 a year ($41.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 10,200 workers.
Pay ranges from $55,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,140 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $77,170, close to the median.
Pay range for subway and streetcar operators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,180 | $26.53 |
| 25th percentile | $61,980 | $29.80 |
| Median | $86,380 | $41.53 |
| 75th percentile | $90,140 | $43.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $90,140 | $43.34 |
| Average (mean) | $77,170 | $37.10 |
Half of subway and streetcar operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,198.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,599.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,322.31 |
| Weekly | $1,661.15 |
| Hourly | $41.53 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Subway and Streetcar Operators salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | n/a |
| Georgia | $59,570 | 300 |
| Texas | $58,780 | 240 |
| Utah | $58,620 | 970 |
| Missouri | $53,030 | 70 |
| Michigan | $41,710 | 40 |
Best-paying metro areas for subway and streetcar operators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $90,140 | 3,950 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $84,350 | 150 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $77,020 | 320 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $69,680 | 130 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $63,030 | 40 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $61,980 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $60,970 | 200 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $59,570 | 270 |
Metro areas with the most subway and streetcar operators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,950 | $90,140 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 320 | $77,020 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 270 | $59,570 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 200 | $60,970 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 150 | $84,350 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 130 | $69,680 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 70 | $61,980 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 40 | $63,030 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | $78,000 | $37.50 |
| Locomotive Engineer | $81,410 | $39.14 |
| Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | $68,840 | $33.10 |
| Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers | $60,600 | $29.14 |
| Rail Transportation Workers, All Other | $56,360 | $27.10 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,640 | $28.19 |
| Light Truck Driver | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,890 | $30.23 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $38,770 | $18.64 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $47,920 | $23.04 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-4041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a subway and streetcar operators make in the U.S.?
The median salary for subway and streetcar operators in the U.S. is $86,380 a year, or $41.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $55,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid subway and streetcar operators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of subway and streetcar operators in the U.S. earn at least $90,140 a year. The top 25% earn $90,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for subway and streetcar operators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $55,180 a year, and a quarter of subway and streetcar operators earn $61,980 or less.
How many subway and streetcar operators work in the U.S.?
About 10,200 subway and streetcar operators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.