Subway and Streetcar Operators Salary
The median pay for a subway and streetcar operators in New Jersey is $68,970/year ($33.16/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $69,428 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 45.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Jersey. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $69K get you in New Jersey?
About subway and streetcar operators
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What this looks like in New Jersey
Pay for subway and streetcar operators in New Jersey runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $86K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,067/month, which is 45.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for subway and streetcar operatorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level subway and streetcar operators (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $9K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track subway and streetcar operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a subway and streetcar operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $69K, rent takes 45.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/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 New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new subway and streetcar operators typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,936/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 New Jersey?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $69K here vs. $86K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for subway and streetcar operators?
New Jersey pays $69K median vs. the U.S. average of $86K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — below the national median.
How much do subway and streetcar operators make in New Jersey?
The median is $68,970 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,600, and experienced subway and streetcar operators can clear $74,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $69K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,549/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 45.4% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median subway and streetcar operators salary is worth about $69,428 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.