How to become a Subway and Streetcar Operator

Official title: Subway and Streetcar Operators

Also called: Combined Rail Operator, Light Rail Operator, Light Rail Train Operator, Light Rail Vehicle Operator (LRV Operator), Rail Operator, Rapid Transit Operator (RTO), Streetcar Operator, Train Operator, Transit Operator, Trolley Operator

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

Main 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.
• Drive and control rail-guided public transportation, such as subways, elevated trains, and electric-powered streetcars, trams, or trolleys, to transport passengers.
• Report delays, mechanical problems, and emergencies to supervisors or dispatchers, using radios.
• Regulate vehicle speed and the time spent at each stop to maintain schedules.
• Make announcements to passengers, such as notifications of upcoming stops or schedule delays.
• Direct emergency evacuation procedures.
• Complete reports, including shift summaries and incident or accident reports.

How to become one

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $86,380 a year The middle half earn $61,980 to $90,140.
• About 10,500 people work in this job now, and about 10,900 are projected by 2035. (+3.7%)
• People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Related jobs

• Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
• Locomotive Engineers
• Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
• Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

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Questions people ask

How much does a Subway and Streetcar Operator earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $86,380 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $61,980 to $90,140.

Is a Subway and Streetcar Operator a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 10,500 to about 10,900 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Subway and Streetcar Operator?

Usually not. Only 14% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Subway and Streetcar Operator?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the 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. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.