Subway and Streetcar Operators build operation and control, operations monitoring and service orientation skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity (80%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | 80% | $59,050 | −32% | None |
| 2 | Commercial Pilots | 74% | $123,220 | +43% | Certificate or associate |
| 3 | Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation | 74% | $92,100Pay for the broader BLS group “Transportation Inspectors” | Not compared | None |
| 4 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 73% | $58,640 | −32% | None |
| 5 | Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | 70% | $92,460 | +7% | Certificate or associate |
| 6 | Gas Plant Operators | 68% | $87,820 | +2% | None |
| 7 | Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | 67% | $96,710 | +12% | None |
| 8 | Transportation Security Screeners | 65% | $66,770 | −23% | None |
| 9 | Roof Bolters, Mining | 64% | $78,540 | −9% | None |
| 10 | Biomass Plant Technicians | 64% | $102,040Pay for the broader BLS group “Power Plant Operators” | Not compared | None |
Compared with Subway and Streetcar Operators, median $86,380. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as subway and streetcar operators (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
80% skill match · $59,050 · −32% pay
Technology Design
74% skill match · $123,220 · +43% pay
Systems Analysis · Systems Evaluation · Operation and Control
74% skill match · $92,100 (broader BLS group)
Quality Control Analysis · Technology Design · Repairing
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity (80% skill match, median $59,050), Commercial Pilots (74% skill match, median $123,220) and Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation (74% skill match, median $92,100), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 8 pay more than subway and streetcar operators at the median. The biggest increases: Air Traffic Controllers (+71%, $148,080), Commercial Pilots (+43%, $123,220) and Power Plant Operators (+18%, $102,040).
19 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.