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Subway and Streetcar Operators

Drives freight and passenger trains.

Typical education to startHigh school diploma or equivalent
Job outlook2025–2035: +4%
Median pay$86,380 a year (2025)
Interest codeRC Realistic, Conventional

Read the full guide

Locomotive engineers operate trains, watch signals and track conditions, and work with conductors to move freight and passengers safely. Most start as conductors and train with the railroad. Schedules are often on call.

Open the locomotive engineer guide

The guide checks the courses against your plan, with things to try each year. Free account needed.

High school courses that build toward it

  • English 10 · English

    Builds reading and writing, which this job uses.

  • Physical Education · Health and PE

    Builds working with customers and clients, which this job uses.

  • Child Development · Career and Technical

    Builds teaching and training, which this job uses.

Ranked by how much the job relies on what each course teaches, from O*NET's knowledge ratings. Your school's own courses and the counselor have the final word.

Subway and Streetcar Operators on O*NET OnLine · O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections 2025.