Europe’s train drivers: How do their salaries stack up?
Europe’s train drivers: How do their salaries stack up?
In late February, Germany experienced disruptions in public transportation due to strikes. The conflict was resolved when Deutsche Bahn and the GDL train drivers’ union finalized a pay agreement. Yet, the question remains: what are the actual earnings for bus, tram, and train operators in the country?
Salary Overview in Germany
According to Destatis, the Federal Statistical Office, skilled bus and tram drivers earn approximately €3,638 in gross monthly income as of April 2025. Train and locomotive operators, however, see higher compensation — their average gross monthly salary reaches up to €4,600. Gross pay refers to pre-tax income prior to social security contributions. The national average for full-time workers in Germany is €4,784 per month, indicating that both bus and tram drivers, as well as train drivers, fall slightly below or near this benchmark.
Other roles within the public transport industry also vary in pay. Among nine key occupations, those in railroad construction in specialized roles lead with median monthly gross earnings of €6,229. This drops to €4,844 for skilled workers. Railway infrastructure inspection and maintenance positions also offer competitive pay, at €6,074 on average, though this declines to €5,292 for complex roles and €3,618 for skilled laborers. Surveillance and traffic control roles in railways report a median of €5,503, while technical operations are at €4,188. The lowest earnings in the sector, based on current data, are for service roles in road and railway traffic, with a median of €3,568.
Comparative Earnings in the UK
Data from the ERI Economic Research Institute’s Salary Expert reveals additional insights. The average gross base salary for tram drivers in Germany is €3,053, whereas subway train operators earn a significantly higher €5,978. Aviation ranks as the top-paying industry in Germany, followed by healthcare and legal sectors. Pilots have the highest median annual gross earnings at €27,459, a figure derived from Eurostat estimates for 2021. Despite this, train drivers in Germany are among the top earners in the EU, ranking fourth nominally and second when adjusted for purchasing power standards (PPS).
Train and tram drivers in the UK, however, surpass their German counterparts. The median gross annual earnings for full-time employees in the country reached £37,430 (€44,211) as of April 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). For rail and Tube workers, the median salary is £63,958 (€75,545), placing these roles among the UK’s highest-paid occupations. Even here, rail workers earn more than barristers and judges, whose median salary is £59,423 (€70,189), a difference of £4,535.
