Rail transport operatives: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time rail transport operatives in the UK earned a median £57,088 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 46% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That ranks 27th of 382 occupations on this measure.
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £42,815 and £72,157.
Median full-time pay: women £42,415 a year, men £61,488 a year.
Paid hours are long: a full-time median of 40 a week including overtime, against 37.5 across all jobs.
ASHE counts roughly 17,000 employee jobs, 94% full-time.
Since 2021 it has risen 17.9%, from £48,405, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 13,700 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £32,896* | £649.80 | £15.20 | £32,474* | £605.70* | £14.71 |
| 20th percentile | £41,817 | £814.70 | £18.53 | £41,260 | £776.00 | £18.26 |
| 25th percentile | £42,815 | £844.60 | £19.87 | £42,745 | £839.60 | £19.53 |
| 30th percentile | £45,679 | £859.20 | £22.05 | £45,187 | £853.40 | £21.44 |
| 40th percentile | £51,722 | £926.70 | £23.56 | £51,683 | £924.10 | £23.52 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £57,088 | £1,031.10 | £25.24 | £56,925 | £1,013.80 | £24.92 |
| 60th percentile | £63,770 | £1,155.40 | £27.99 | £63,922 | £1,148.50 | £27.84 |
| 70th percentile | £70,719 | £1,306.40 | £29.62 | £70,746 | £1,306.10 | £29.57 |
| 75th percentile | £72,157 | £1,381.10 | £31.24 | £72,179 | £1,381.10 | £31.24 |
| 80th percentile | – | £1,416.10* | £32.35 | – | £1,416.10* | £32.38 |
| Mean | £58,716 | £1,112.10 | £25.83 | £58,324 | £1,090.40 | £25.89 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £48,405 | £905.10 | £19.90 | £47,993 | £881.00 | 15* |
| 2022 revised | £49,757 | £949.50 | £20.19 | £49,570 | £941.50 | 15* |
| 2023 revised | £50,164 | £1,142.60 | £24.30 | £50,164 | £1,142.60 | 10* |
| 2024 revised | £53,119 | £1,031.10 | £23.98 | £52,930 | £1,025.20 | 13* |
| 2025 provisional | £57,088 | £1,031.10 | £25.24 | £56,925 | £1,013.80 | 17 |
Rail transport operatives by region
UK: 13,700 (± 4,500), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What rail transport operatives do
Rail transport operatives assist drivers in the operation of passenger and goods trains, drive locomotive engines in coal mines, guide wagons and coaches in marshalling yards and sidings to make up trains, operate signals and points to control the movement of rail traffic, and monitor the operation of surface and underground railways. (ONS SOC 2020, 8234)
Also covers: protection master, railway worker, shunter, signalman (railways), transport supervisor (railways), ballast guard, capstan foreman, cartage inspector, diesel driver, district inspector, driver (train), engine stoker, fire dropper, goods foreman, goods guard, goods inspector, guards inspector and loco fireman (93 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Provides crews for breakdown trains, allocates relief and replacement crews as necessary, keeps crews informed of any line repairs or restrictions, and checks train running times for punctuality
- Examines schedules and decides priority of movement of trains, monitors movement of trains and issues instructions to drivers, signal operatives and level crossing keepers
- Operates signals and opens and closes barriers at level crossings as required
- Examines shunting instructions, uncouples wagons and coaches, guides movement of carriages using manual points and wagon breaks, links-up carriages, ensures security of couplings and reconnects brake and heating systems
- Assists drivers in the operation of diesel, diesel-electric, electric and steam locomotives
- Checks loading of tubs and carriages, and informs driver of load distribution and any special features of route
There are no formal academic entry requirements. Candidates may be required to have good hearing, eyesight, and normal colour vision and pass a medical examination for entry to some posts. Training is initially undertaken in training centres, followed by practical experience on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs in Rail Services are available at level 2 and 3.
Related
Other drivers and transport operatives (median £59,772) · Air transport operatives · Marine and waterways transport operatives · salary percentile · Average weekly hours worked in the UK · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026