Subway and Streetcar Operators
Transportation and Material Moving
At the controls, the job is running rail-guided public transit—subways, elevated trains, or electric streetcars—and matching speed and time at each stop to the schedule. Lights that flag an obstruction or another train have to be watched, along with cars and trucks at crossings, while doors open and close and passengers hear stop or delay announcements. Radios go to supervisors when something mechanical fails or an emergency starts; the operator may direct an evacuation and later complete shift summaries and incident reports. Suits people who like staying alert at the controls for a full shift and holding a public timetable.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$86'380
Median Wage Market Position
$86'380
What you might do
- Drive subway cars, elevated trains, or streetcars
- Scan ahead for other trains and crossing traffic
- Open and close transit vehicle doors
- Keep speed and stop times on schedule
- Call out upcoming stops and delays to riders
- Radio delays, breakdowns, and emergencies to dispatch
Skills that matter
- Driving subways, elevated trains, and streetcars
- Opening and closing transit vehicle doors
- Watching obstruction lights and street crossings
- Announcing stops and delays to passengers
- Pacing speed and stops to keep the schedule
- Directing passenger evacuations in an emergency
AI & the future of this role
Some transit systems already use or trial automated train control, so routine driving tasks could shrink further. Passenger safety, irregular incidents, and local operating rules still need human oversight, even as staffing needs may ease.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details