How Much Does a Train Operator Make in the United Kingdom? Salary Range, Hourly Rate and More
As of March 18, 2025, the average annual salary for a Train Operator in the United Kingdom is £20,055, with an hourly rate of £10, according to Salary.com Global Salary IQ data. The average salary ranges from £19,115 to £22,522, influenced by factors like location, education, experience, and more.
Convert Currency to USD| Percentile | Salary | Location | Last Updated |
| 25th Percentile Train Operator Salary | £19,115 | United Kingdom | March 18, 2025 |
| 50th Percentile Train Operator Salary | £20,055 | United Kingdom | March 18, 2025 |
| 75th Percentile Train Operator Salary | £22,522 | United Kingdom | March 18, 2025 |
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How Much Does a Train Operator Make by Hour, Week, Month, and Year?
Last Updated on March 18, 2025Salary.com provides you with accurate and diversified Train Operator salary data based on specialized databases to help you get a fairer salary. The average annual pay for a Train Operator is about £20,055 a year, this translates to an approximate hourly rate of £10, a monthly salary of about £1,671, and a weekly pay of around £386. Click the switch button below to see more details about Train Operator hourly pay, weekly pay, monthly pay, and so on.
How Much Do Train Operators Earn at Different Levels in 2025?
A Train Operator's salary varies significantly based on experience level. Entry typically earn £32,218 - £33,991, while Intermediate make £32,436 - £34,320, Senior earn £33,005 - £35,176, Specialist earn £33,311 - £35,703, Expert can reach £33,442 - £35,835 or more, depending on the company and location.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Train Operator | £33,311 |
| Intermediate Level Train Operator | £33,530 |
| Senior Level Train Operator | £34,320 |
| Specialist Level Train Operator | £34,847 |
| Expert Level Train Operator | £34,979 |
| Entry Level | 66% |
| Intermediate Level | 67% |
| Senior Level | 71% |
| Specialist Level | 74% |
| Expert Level | 74% |
Which Job Pays More: Wordprocessing Operator or Train Operator?
As of March 18, 2025 , a Wordprocessing Operator makes more than a Train Operator. A Wordprocessing Operator earns an average annual salary of £22,704. And a Train Operator earns an average annual salary of £20,055.
| Job Title | Salary Range in GBP |
|---|---|
| Wordprocessing Operator |
|
| Production Operator |
|
| Machine Operator |
|
| Fork Lift Operator |
|
| Machine Operator I |
|
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Frequently Asked Questions about Train Operator Salaries
1. How much does a TFL train driver earn?
The average salary for a Train Driver is £58,422 per year (estimate) in United Kingdom, which is 7% lower than the average London Underground salary of £63,000 per year (estimate) for this job. The salary trajectory of a Train Driver ranges between locations and employers.12 Nov 2024
2. Do train drivers make 100k?
Train drivers generally get paid between £53,000 and £87,000 – some people do it for that salary.16 Aug 2024
3. How much do railway workers get paid in the UK?
The average Network Rail salary ranges from approximately £20,500 per year for Entry Level Civil Engineer to £83,730 per year for Delivery Director. Average Network Rail hourly pay ranges from approximately £13.00 per hour for Program Director to £50.00 per hour for Delivery Manager.
4. Why are UK train drivers paid so much?
From what I've read about online, it seems that the main reasons are the qualifications and training required to be a driver, the limited labour pool of available train drivers, the presence of a union, and the poor working conditions, often, having to work unsociable hours.17 Jan 2025
5. Do train drivers earn 70k a year?
The estimated total pay for a Train Driver is £66,047 per year in the London area, with an average salary of £60,902 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users.
6. Can I become a train driver at 40?
There is no longer an upper age limit for entry, but training drivers is expensive and TOCs will want to get value for their investment.