Subway and Streetcar Operators Salary
The median pay for a subway and streetcar operators in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD is $84,350/year ($40.56/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $72K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.49), that's roughly $80,725 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,857/month, about 35.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $84K get you in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baltimore-Columbia-Towson’s Regional Price Parity (104.49). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About subway and streetcar operators
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What this looks like in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Subway and streetcar operators pay in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson tracks closely to the national median, $84K locally vs. $86K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,857/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.49) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for subway and streetcar operators in metros near Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $62K | $63K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Entry-level subway and streetcar operators (10th percentile) start around $72K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $12K spread from bottom to top.
Subway and Streetcar Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Subway and Streetcar Operators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $92K | +7% | 480 |
| California | $79K | -9% | 900 |
| Washington | $77K | -11% | 320 |
| Florida | $73K | -16% | 130 |
| New Jersey | $69K | -20% | 140 |
| Minnesota | $65K | -24% | 140 |
| North Carolina | $63K | -28% | 110 |
| Virginia | $62K | -28% | N/A |
| Georgia | $60K | -31% | 300 |
| Texas | $59K | -32% | 240 |
| Utah | $59K | -32% | 970 |
| Missouri | $53K | -39% | 70 |
| Michigan | $42K | -52% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track subway and streetcar operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Baltimore-Columbia-Towson numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a subway and streetcar operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 34.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,857/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for subway and streetcar operators in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new subway and streetcar operators typically earn — is $72K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,340/month. At HUD’s $1,857/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is subway and streetcar operator a high-paying job in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $84K locally vs. $86K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Baltimore-Columbia-Towson compare to the national average for subway and streetcar operators?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $86K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — below the national median.
How much do subway and streetcar operators make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median is $84,350 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $72,330, and experienced subway and streetcar operators can clear $84,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,324/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,857/month, which eats 34.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a subway and streetcar operators salary go in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson has a Regional Price Parity of 104.49 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median subway and streetcar operators salary is worth about $80,725 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do subway and streetcar operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.