Subway and Streetcar Operators Salary
The median pay for a subway and streetcar operators in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ is $90,140/year ($43.34/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $90K at the entry level to $90K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 112.56), so that salary is closer to $80,082 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,910/month, about 51.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $90K get you in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by New York-Newark-Jersey City’s Regional Price Parity (112.56). 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 New York-Newark-Jersey City
Subway and streetcar operators pay in New York-Newark-Jersey City tracks closely to the national median, $90K locally vs. $86K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,910/month, which is 51.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 13% above the national average (BEA RPP 112.56), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
Entry-level subway and streetcar operators (10th percentile) start around $90K. Mid-career wages sit at $90K. Top earners bring in $90K or more, a $0 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 New York-Newark-Jersey City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a subway and streetcar operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $90K, rent takes 51.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,910/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/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 York-Newark-Jersey City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new subway and streetcar operators typically earn — is $90K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,408/month. At HUD’s $2,910/month FMR, rent would take 54% 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 York-Newark-Jersey City?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $90K locally vs. $86K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does New York-Newark-Jersey City compare to the national average for subway and streetcar operators?
New York-Newark-Jersey City pays $90K median vs. the U.S. average of $86K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 112.56), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — below the national median.
How much do subway and streetcar operators make in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?
The median is $90,140 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $90,140, and experienced subway and streetcar operators can clear $90,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $90K enough to live in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,620/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,910/month, which eats 51.8% 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 York-Newark-Jersey City?
New York-Newark-Jersey City has a Regional Price Parity of 112.56 (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 $80,082 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.