Subway and Streetcar Operators

Summary

Operators use a variety of controls to drive their vehicle.

Quick Facts: Subway and Streetcar Operators
2010 Median Pay	$56,880 per year $27.35 per hour
Entry-Level Education	High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Number of Jobs, 2010	6,500
Job Outlook, 2010-20	10% (About as fast as average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	600

What Subway and Streetcar Operators Do

Subway and streetcar operators transport passengers in urban and suburban areas. The vehicles they drive travel underground, on above-ground and elevated tracks, on streets, or on separate tracks.

Work Environment

Almost all subway and streetcar operators work for local governments that run transit systems within their jurisdiction. Most work full time.

How to Become a Subway or Streetcar Operator

Operators need a high school diploma or equivalent and several months of on-the-job training to enter the occupation.

Pay

The median annual wage of subway and streetcar operators was $56,880 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of subway and streetcar operators is projected to grow 10 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Growth is expected because several cities have proposed building new subway or streetcar systems or expanding existing ones.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of subway and streetcar operators with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about subway and streetcar operators by contacting these additional resources.

What Subway and Streetcar Operators Do About this section

Streetcars are smaller than subways trains.

Subway and streetcar operators transport passengers in urban and suburban areas. Subway operators drive trains that run on separate tracks that may be underground or above ground. Streetcar operators drive electric-powered streetcars, trolleys, and light-rail vehicles that run on streets or on separate tracks above ground.

Duties

Subway and streetcar operators typically do the following:

• Observe signals on the track that indicate when they are supposed to start, stop, or slow down
• Make announcements, such as the stop, final destination, or delays
• Control the vehicle’s speed based on regulations for the section of track on which they are operating
• Open and close vehicle doors at scheduled stops
• Watch to make sure all passengers get on and off the vehicle safely
• Communicate with dispatchers to report or be informed of delays or other problems
• Ensure the safe evacuation of passengers during a breakdown or emergency situation
• Test vehicles during non-operating hours and report problems to management

Subway trains and streetcars are normally electric powered, with no separate locomotive pulling the rest of the vehicle. Trains with a separate locomotive travel much further, often through several states or across the country, while subways and streetcars operate within a single metropolitan area.

Operators work a variety of controls. Although some subways are driven by a computer while in route, most operators control when to start and stop a train. On manually driven subways and on streetcars, operators monitor the speed of the vehicle. Most also control the vehicle doors, helping to ensure that passengers get off and on safely.

Subway operators drive heavy-rail trains that travel on their own right-of-way on underground, above-ground, or elevated tracks. The train’s speed often is controlled by a computer, not the operator. However, drivers must be able to take over and drive the train manually in case of an emergency.

Streetcar operators drive electric streetcars, trolleys, and other light-rail vehicles in an urban area. Some streetcar tracks are built in the street, and operators must drive in regular traffic and obey all traffic laws. Operators start, stop, and slow down so that passengers can get on and off. Some operators collect fares and make change. Answering questions about fares, schedules, and routes, streetcar operators interact more with passengers than subway operators do.

Work Environment About this section

Subway operators drive trains that run on separate tracks that may be underground or above ground.

Subway and streetcar operators held 6,500 jobs in 2010. About 95 percent of subway and streetcar operators work for local governments that run transit systems within their jurisdiction. Usually, these governments also run bus systems. Some transit agencies use subway and streetcar operators as bus drivers as well, switching workers between modes, depending on the agencies’ needs.

Work Schedules

Most subway and streetcar operators work full time. Schedules may vary, based on the transit system’s schedule. Operators transport passengers whenever transit systems are open, including weekends, holidays, late nights, early mornings, and, sometimes, around the clock.

How to Become a Subway or Streetcar Operator About this section

Subway operators are usually trained on the job.

Operators need a high school diploma or equivalent and several months of on-the-job training to enter the occupation.

Education

Subway and streetcar operators typically need to have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Training

Operators generally get 1 to 3 months of on-the-job training before they drive their own route. The transit agency provides this training. Following the training, operators must pass a test to ensure that they understand the applicable rules and regulations.

Work Experience

Some transit agencies prefer to hire subway and streetcar operators who have had at least 1 year of experience as a bus driver. For more information, see the profile on bus drivers.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Operators have to be able to communicate effectively with each other to avoid accidents and to keep the trains on schedule.

Customer-service skills. Streetcar drivers regularly interact with passengers and must be courteous and helpful.

Hand-eye coordination. These workers have to operate various controls while staying aware of their surroundings.

Hearing ability. Good hearing is important for operators. They must be able to hear automated warning signals. If they are operating a streetcar in mixed traffic, they must be able to hear other drivers.

Visual ability. Excellent vision is required to drive safely. Operators must watch for signal changes and obstructions.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of subway and streetcar operators was $56,880 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than the amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $36,180, and the top 10 percent earned more than $66,570.

The median annual wage of subway and streetcar operators in local government, where most are employed, was $57,310 in May 2010.

Most subway and streetcar operators work full time. Schedules may vary, based on the transit system’s schedule. Operators transport passengers whenever transit systems are open, including weekends, holidays, late nights, early mornings, and, sometimes, around the clock.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of subway and streetcar operators is projected to grow 10 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Growth is expected because several cities have proposed building new subway or streetcar systems or expanding existing systems.

Demand for new rail systems is driven by population growth in cities. In addition, an expected increase in gas prices will likely cause some drivers to switch to rail for their commutes.

However, despite expected increases in demand for rail systems, employment growth for subway and streetcar operators depends on state and local government budgets. Building rail systems is expensive, and, during economic downturns, the costs might cause some cities to scale back or cancel their plans for new systems.

Cities could also look to replace some planned lines with buses, which are cheaper to operate and still may satisfy commuters' demand for public transit. As a result, employment growth of subway and streetcar operators may be lower than expected if state and local governments have budget shortfalls.

Job Prospects

Job opportunities for subway and streetcar operators should be good in cities where new rail systems are being built. There is likely to be more competition for jobs in cities with existing systems. Opportunities should be best for applicants with experience driving public transportation vehicles, such as buses. For more information, see the profile on bus drivers.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more transportation statistics and career information, visit

American Public Transit Association