Train and tram drivers: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time train and tram drivers in the UK earned a median £76,327 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 96% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
Only 7 of 382 occupations with a published full-time median are higher.
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £68,924 and £83,129.
Median full-time pay: women £76,027 a year, men £76,337 a year.
Full-time paid hours are shorter than usual, a median of 35.6 a week.
ASHE counts roughly 27,000 employee jobs, 96% full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 29.0% (from £59,181), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 40,600 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 | £49,736* | £883.80 | £20.19 | £41,998* | £705.40 | £19.46 |
| 20th percentile | £63,704 | £1,239.30 | £29.12* | £58,737 | £1,080.00* | £28.62* |
| 25th percentile | £68,924 | £1,277.70 | £35.74 | £63,585 | £1,249.10 | £35.43 |
| 30th percentile | £73,151 | £1,344.80 | £36.38 | £69,175 | £1,284.90 | £36.32 |
| 40th percentile | £75,431 | £1,364.10 | £38.76 | £75,052 | £1,364.10 | £38.87 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £76,327 | £1,378.20 | £38.97 | £76,176 | £1,369.60 | £38.97 |
| 60th percentile | £78,700 | £1,437.30 | £39.57 | £78,465 | £1,421.00 | £39.47 |
| 70th percentile | £80,846 | £1,541.50 | £41.00 | £80,846 | £1,531.90 | £40.92 |
| 75th percentile | £83,129 | £1,563.00 | £41.58 | £81,905 | £1,549.80 | £41.16 |
| 80th percentile | £86,763 | £1,658.80 | £43.10 | £86,063 | £1,646.40 | £42.74 |
| Mean | £75,860 | £1,404.20 | £36.63 | £73,202 | £1,358.20 | £36.55 |
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 | £59,181 | £1,112.20 | £31.76 | £59,031 | £1,112.20 | 28 |
| 2022 revised | £58,867 | £1,137.60 | £32.29 | £58,861 | £1,135.80 | 26 |
| 2023 revised | £64,345 | £1,230.60 | £32.88 | £63,820 | £1,228.10 | 21 |
| 2024 revised | £63,970 | £1,305.40 | £35.25 | £63,861 | £1,305.40 | 19 |
| 2025 provisional | £76,327 | £1,378.20 | £38.97 | £76,176 | £1,369.60 | 27 |
Train and tram drivers by region
UK: 40,600 (± 7,800), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What train and tram drivers do
Train and tram drivers drive diesel, diesel-electric, electric and steam locomotives that transport passengers and goods on surface and underground railways, and transport passengers in trams. (ONS SOC 2020, 8231)
Also covers: diesel driver (railways), train driver, train operator, tram driver, shunter driver, diesel driver, engine driver, loco driver, locomotive driver, locomotive engine driver, rail car driver, railway engine driver, shunting engine driver and shuttle car driver.
- Checks controls, gauges, brakes and lights before start of journey and studies route, timetable and track information
- Checks safety equipment, regulates the heating of passenger compartments and records engine defects or unusual incidents on the journey
- Starts train or tram when directed and operates controls to regulate speed
- Watches for track hazards, observes signals and temperature, pressure and other gauges
- Stops as directed to allow passengers to embark/ disembark
- Makes scheduled stops for the loading and unloading of freight and coupling/uncoupling of carriages and tubs
There are no formal academic requirements. Entrants must pass a series of tests and a medical examination. Age restrictions apply in some areas of work. Good hearing, good eyesight and normal colour vision are required. Off and on-the-job training is provided. NVQs/SVQs are available at level 2.
Related
Other drivers and transport operatives (median £59,772) · Marine and waterways transport operatives · Air transport operatives · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026