Subway and Streetcar Operators

Career summary

#No alternate titles

Operators drive subways underground and elevated trains that run on tracks above city streets. Some subway trains emerge from underground to run along the surface for part of their route.

Subway and streetcar operators open and close doors so that passengers can get in and out. They monitor the time to determine if they are on schedule. When they are late, they may contact dispatchers or supervisors by radio.

Operators attend meetings on driver and rider safety. They complete reports about their shift. They fill out reports when there are accidents or incidents such as fights on their vehicles.

Both subway and streetcar operators obey signals while operating their vehicles. Subway operators use signals to know when they can enter tunnels. Streetcar operators obey the same traffic signals as cars and buses. Streetcar operators watch for pedestrians and other drivers.

A major difference between subway and streetcar operators is the amount of contact they have with passengers. Subway operators rarely speak to passengers. They have an area to themselves at the front of the train.

Streetcar operators have a lot of contact with passengers. They greet passengers and receive fares. They make change and give transfer passes. They answer questions and explain routes, fares, and schedules. They may resolve conflicts with passengers.

Related careers

This career is part of the Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Ambulance Drivers
• Bus Drivers
• Couriers and Messengers
• Heavy Truck Drivers
• Highway Maintenance Workers
• Locomotive Engineers
• Mail Carriers
• School Bus Drivers
• Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to subway and streetcar operators.

• Transport passengers by driving subway trains, elevated trains, or electric-powered streetcars.
• Open and close doors so passengers can get in and out.
• Monitor schedule delays and radio information to supervisor or dispatcher.
• Attend meetings on driver and rider safety.
• Complete reports such as shift summaries or accident reports.
• Greet passengers and answer questions on fares, schedules, transfers, and routes.
• Collect fares, give change, and issue transfers.
• Obey traffic signals and watch traffic when driving on the streets.
• Record readings on coin box to verify amount of money collected during the shift.
• Resolve conflicts with passengers.
• Direct emergency situations.

Common work activities

Subway and streetcar operators perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Get information needed to do the job
• Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Perform for or work with the public
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Control machines and processes
• Evaluate information against standards
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Process information
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Assist and care for others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, subway and streetcar operators:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social contact. They provide information to passengers throughout the day.
• Talk to others in person or sometimes over the telephone.
• Are responsible for the safety of passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers.
• Must sometimes deal with individuals who may become violent.
• Occasionally are placed in conflicts where they must deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous people.
• Often work as part of a team.
• Are somewhat responsible for the work done by others.

Physical work conditions

• Often wear uniforms.
• Often work indoors while operating subway trains or streetcars. They may work outdoors when helping passengers get on or off the vehicle, but this is rare.
• Are regularly exposed to loud sounds and distracting noise levels.
• Are sometimes exposed to hazardous conditions, equipment, and contaminants.
• May be exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures, depending on the weather.
• Sometimes wear safety attire, such as hard hats or heavy boots.
• May be exposed to very dim or very bright light.

Work performance

• Must be sure they complete all details of the job accurately, especially with regard to safety measures. Errors can endanger passenger safety, disrupt schedules, and cause financial loss.
• Must be constantly aware of events that change often, such as passengers wanting to get on and off. Must be aware of events that are rare or unexpected, such as mechanical problems.
• Repeat the same physical activities.
• Determine the pace of their work by the speed of surrounding traffic.
• Often make decisions that affect passengers. They often seek input from others before deciding a course of action.
• Must meet strict daily and hourly deadlines.

Hours/travel

• Usually work at least 40 hours per week. May occasionally work multiple shifts.
• May work nights, weekends, and holidays.
• May have rotating or regular shifts.

Physical demands

Subway and streetcar operators frequently:

• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Repeat the same movements.
• Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for subway and streetcar operators to be able to:

• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• While looking forward, see objects or movements that are off to the side.
• Determine from which direction a sound came.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for subway and streetcar operators to be able to:

• See objects in very bright or glaring light.
• See objects in very low light.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.

Skills and abilities

Subway and streetcar operators need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Look for ways to help people.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Work with things

• Operate and control equipment.
• Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.

Perceive and visualize

• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
• Know one's location in a physical setting and recognize where other objects are located in relation to oneself.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Heavy Equipment Operations
• Truck and Bus Driving

Training

To work as a subway or streetcar operator, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• complete a formal training program; and
• complete moderate-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

Subway and streetcar operator trainees are selected from the ranks of other subway or streetcar system workers. Once selected, you complete a formal training program that lasts from a few weeks to six months. Training includes classroom instruction and hands-on training. At the end of the training, you must pass written and practical exams. The subway company provides training.

On-the-job training

This is not an entry-level job. Most subway and streetcar operators start out as a laborer or conductor. Once promoted to operator, you usually train for an additional two to six months.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Diesel Mechanics and Repair
• Driver Education

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers prefer applicants who have a high school diploma or equivalent. Many transit firms require experience driving a bus before they hire and train people to drive subway trains and streetcars.

Employers look for applicants who are in good health and can make quick, responsible judgments. Employers of streetcar operators also look for applicants with good communication skills.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Subway and Streetcar Operators 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Currently, there is no specific statewide wage information available for subway and streetcar operators.

Wages vary by employer and area of the country. The operator's experience and level of responsibility may also affect wages. Operators who belong to a union usually receive higher wages than non-union workers.

Subway and streetcar operators who work full time generally receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, and health insurance. Some employers also provide a retirement plan.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Local and suburban transportation companies

National outlook

Employment of subway and streetcar operators is expected to be about average. More commuter and light-rail transportation systems are being proposed around the country. Job opportunities will be best in cities where the construction of commuter and light-rail transit systems is underway.

Job openings will occur as current workers retire or leave this occupation for other reasons. Competition for these jobs is keen. Many applicants qualify because a high school education is adequate background. Because the pay is good, the work is steady, and the occupation is very small, there will be more applicants than openings.

Other resources

Amalgamated Transit Union 
10000 New Hampshire Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20903
888.240.1196
301.431.7100

American Public Transportation Association 
1300 I Street NW, Suite 1200 East
Washington, DC 20005
202.496.4800

Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Union 
1750 New York Avenue NW, 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20006
800.457.7694
202.662.0800

References

Career cluster

• Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Career path

• Realistic (Technical)

O*Net  occupation

• Subway and Streetcar Operators (53-4041.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed.

DOT occupations

• Motor Operator (910.683-014) 
• Streetcar Operator (913.463-014) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Realistic/Conventional/Enterprising

COPSystem

• Technology Skilled