Trolley operator vs subway train operator

The differences between trolley operators and subway train operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a subway train operator has an average salary of $51,331, which is higher than the $37,590 average annual salary of a trolley operator.

Trolley operator vs subway train operator overview

	Trolley Operator	Subway Train Operator
Yearly salary	$37,590	$51,331
Hourly rate	$18.07	$24.68
Growth rate	5%	-2%
Number of jobs	30,015	26,860
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 56%	High School Diploma, 40%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	-	-

Trolley operator vs subway train operator salary

Trolley operators and subway train operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Trolley Operator	Subway Train Operator
Average salary	$37,590	$51,331
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $55,000	Between $26,000 And $97,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between trolley operator and subway train operator education

There are a few differences between a trolley operator and a subway train operator in terms of educational background:

	Trolley Operator	Subway Train Operator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 56%	High School Diploma, 40%
Most common major	General Studies	Health Care Administration
Most common college	-	-

Trolley operator vs subway train operator demographics

Here are the differences between trolley operators' and subway train operators' demographics:

	Trolley Operator	Subway Train Operator
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 78.3% Female, 21.7%	Male, 75.0% Female, 25.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 16.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 5.7% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%	Black or African American, 17.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 4.9% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage	21%	21%

Differences between trolley operator and subway train operator duties and responsibilities

Trolley operator example responsibilities.

Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.
Oversee all transit mode operations for para-transit.services.

Subway train operator example responsibilities.

Perform pre-trip and post-trip inspections on trolley vehicles prior and after operation of the vehicles.
Service and maintain the LACT units.

Trolley operator vs subway train operator skills

Common trolley operator skills

Pre-trip, 34%
Trolleys, 29%
CDL, 24%
Transport Passengers, 8%
Mobility Aids, 5%

Common subway train operator skills

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Transportation Industry
Trolley Operator
Trolley Operator vs Subway Train Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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