# Subway and Streetcar Operators

> Operate subway or elevated suburban trains with no separate locomotive, or electric-powered streetcar, to transport passengers. May handle fares.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/subway-and-streetcar-operators
- SOC code: 53-4041.00
- Career family: Transportation
- Median annual pay: $86,380 (10th percentile $55,180, 90th percentile $90,140)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +3.7%
- Openings a year: 900
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCS)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 82 |
| Investigative (I) | 6 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 30 |
| Enterprising (E) | 21 |
| Conventional (C) | 54 |

## What you'd do

- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 91/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 88/100)
- Getting Information (importance 86/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 85/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 79/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 76/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 73/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 71/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 69/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 68/100)

## Skills

Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Active Listening, Speaking, Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Service Orientation, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving

## Knowledge

Transportation, Public Safety and Security, Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Education and Training, Telecommunications, Mechanical, Administration and Management, Law and Government, Psychology

## Also called

Combined Rail Operator, Electric Motorman, Elevated Motorman, Light Rail Operator, Light Rail Train Operator, Light Rail Transit Operator, Light Rail Vehicle Operator (LRV Operator), Monorail Operator, Motor Coach Operator, Motor Operator

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Ground Transportation](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4902) (CIP 4902, 213 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Pennsylvania College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pennsylvania-college-of-technology-2096) | Ground Transportation | $54,938 | $62,389 | $12,000 |

## Related careers

- [Locomotive Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/locomotive-engineers): $81,410 median pay
- [Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/railroad-conductors-and-yardmasters): $78,000 median pay
- [Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/bus-drivers-transit-and-intercity): $59,050 median pay
- [Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/railroad-brake-signal-and-switch-operators-and-locomotive-firers): $68,840 median pay
- [Taxi Drivers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/taxi-drivers): $42,100 median pay
- [Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/rail-yard-engineers-dinkey-operators-and-hostlers): $60,600 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.