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Skilled Trades

Subway and Streetcar Operators

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

Median salary (BLS)

$86,380

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$55k – $90k

Job outlook

+3% (about average)

AI exposure

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Subway and Streetcar Operators" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Subway and Streetcar Operators

    Entry / Junior

    $55,180

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Subway and Streetcar Operators

    Established

    $86,380

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Subway and Streetcar Operators

    Senior

    $88,260

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.