Subway and Streetcar Operators - 53-4041.00

Operate subway or elevated suburban trains with no separate locomotive, or electric-powered streetcar, to transport passengers. May handle fares.

Sample of reported job titles: Bus Operator, Combined Rail Operator, Light Rail Operator, Light Rail Vehicle Operator (LRV Operator), Rail Operator, Rapid Transit Operator (RTO), Streetcar Operator, Train Operator, Transit Operator, Trolley Operator

Tasks

• Operate controls to open and close transit vehicle doors.
• Drive and control rail-guided public transportation, such as subways, elevated trains, and electric-powered streetcars, trams, or trolleys, to transport passengers.
• Monitor lights indicating obstructions or other trains ahead and watch for car and truck traffic at crossings to stay alert to potential hazards.
• Direct emergency evacuation procedures.
• Regulate vehicle speed and the time spent at each stop to maintain schedules.
• Report delays, mechanical problems, and emergencies to supervisors or dispatchers, using radios.
• Make announcements to passengers, such as notifications of upcoming stops or schedule delays.
• Complete reports, including shift summaries and incident or accident reports.
• Greet passengers, provide information, and answer questions concerning fares, schedules, transfers, and routings.
• Attend meetings on driver and passenger safety to learn ways in which job performance might be affected.
• Collect fares from passengers, and issue change and transfers.
• Record transactions and coin receptor readings to verify the amount of money collected.

Tools Used

• Diesel passenger locomotives - Diesel powered train engines
• Door openers - Door opening controls
• Electric passenger locomotives - Electric train engines
• Fire extinguishers - Multipurpose fire extinguishers
• Intercom systems - Customer-to-operator two-way communication systems
• Public address systems - In-train public address systems
• Rail switching systems - Track switches
• Streetcars or tramway cars - Streetcars; Trolleys
• Train braking systems - Deadman pedals
• Train defrosting or defogging systems - Railcar defrosting systems
• Two way radios - Portable two way radios
• Vehicle horns - Trolley bell foot pedals; Whistle pulls
• Wheelchair ramps - Wheelchair exit or entrance ramps

Knowledge

• Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
• Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Skills

• Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Abilities

• Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
• Depth Perception - The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
• Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Reaction Time - The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
• Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
• Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Response Orientation - The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
• Auditory Attention - The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
• Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
• Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
• Rate Control - The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
• Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
• Hearing Sensitivity - The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Peripheral Vision - The ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes are looking ahead.
• Sound Localization - The ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated.
• Spatial Orientation - The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
• Time Sharing - The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
• Visual Color Discrimination - The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Interests

• Interest code: RC
  • Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
  • Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Work Context

• In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment - 89% responded “Every day.”
• Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - 77% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Contact With Others - 73% responded “Constant contact with others.”
• Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - 54% responded “Extremely important.”
• Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People - 66% responded “Every day.”
• Consequence of Error - 66% responded “Extremely serious.”
• Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - 65% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Duration of Typical Work Week - 71% responded “More than 40 hours.”
• Frequency of Decision Making - 72% responded “Every day.”
• Deal With External Customers - 53% responded “Extremely important.”
• Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable - 65% responded “Every day.”
• Time Pressure - 71% responded “Every day.”
• Outdoors, Exposed to Weather - 65% responded “Every day.”
• Spend Time Sitting - 47% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Work With Work Group or Team - 52% responded “Extremely important.”
• Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - 46% responded “Very important results.”
• Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - 41% responded “Extremely important.”
• Face-to-Face Discussions - 50% responded “Every day.”
• Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - 43% responded “Very high responsibility.”
• Physical Proximity - 34% responded “Moderately close (at arm's length).”
• Frequency of Conflict Situations - 34% responded “Every day.”
• Freedom to Make Decisions - 27% responded “A lot of freedom.”
• Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment - 41% responded “Extremely important.”
• Exposed to Contaminants - 47% responded “Every day.”
• Exposed to Hazardous Conditions - 57% responded “Every day.”
• Deal With Physically Aggressive People - 28% responded “Every day.”
• Very Hot or Cold Temperatures - 33% responded “Every day.”
• Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - 49% responded “Every day.”
• Telephone - 32% responded “Every day.”
• Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting - 34% responded “Every day.”

Education

Percentage of Respondents	Education Level Required
60%	High school diploma or equivalent
24%	Some college, no degree
7%	Post-secondary certificate

Work Styles

• Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
• Self Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
• Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
• Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
• Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
• Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
• Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
• Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
• Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
• Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
• Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
• Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
• Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Work Values

• Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
• Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
• Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Wages & Trends

• Median wages (2017)
  • $31.93 hourly, $66,420 annual
• Employment (2016)
  • 13,000 employees
• Projected growth (2016-2026)
  • Slower than average (2% to 4%)
• Projected job openings (2016-2026)
  • 1,300