Transit Workforce Data Dashboard

Overview

TWC’s Transit Workforce Data Dashboard

Overview

The Transit Workforce Data Dashboard presents quantitative, descriptive data about the composition of the transit and broader transportation workforce and trends in employment using a series of charts and graphics. This information is relevant for industry discussions in a range of contexts, including: strategic workforce planning in recruitment, retention, and other areas; examining and addressing opportunities and challenges related to workforce demographics; and identifying training and funding needs.

In this dashboard, data come from two main sources: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the National Transit Database (NTD). In all cases, we have used the most recent year of data available and will update the dashboard as new waves of data are published. Tabs and individual charts are labelled to specify whether data are specific to transit or reflect total employment in selected transportation and related occupations. For more information, please view the General Notes and Data Sources panels below.

The Transit Workforce Data Dashboard is an industry resource and general reference containing analyses and summaries of publicly available data. It is not a source of comprehensive or official transit agency data. If used as a research reference, data should be cited as a TWC analysis of the underlying dataset. Researchers are encouraged to refer to original datasets when possible. Users may email us to request or verify specific data.

TWC has two blog posts to help users navigate and analyze the Data Dashboard. Check out the posts for tips on how to use the Dashboard and key takeaways and findings.

General Notes

Charts are grouped by topic in tabs. This dashboard is a work in progress and will evolve over time. Please email us at twc@transportcenter.org to suggest future analyses that would be helpful to your transit agency’s operations.

Please note that the dashboard is meant to be viewed in full-screen mode; re-sizing your browser window may adversely affect the interactive charts’ readability. The data dashboard is not yet mobile-device compatible; mobile-friendly updates will be available in the future.

The dashboard is compatible with the accessibility widget (bottom right of the page) that is available across the TWC site. However, to enlarge charts and data labels we recommend using your browser’s zoom function rather than the widget.

Data Sources

Bureau of Labor Statistics Data

BLS releases multiple workforce datasets, created through varied surveys and analytical methodologies. Our dashboard features: 

  1. data on job openings, training, and more from BLS’ Employment Projections program 
  2. data on wages in selected occupations, sourced from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program 
  3. data about the demographic composition of the U.S. transportation workforce sourced from the Current Population Survey (CPS), which is co-sponsored by BLS and the U.S. Census Bureau. To obtain comprehensive demographic data, we use iPUMS CPS microdata to generate estimates by occupation. Our results closely mirror annual averages produced by BLS. 

These data are up-to-date and nationally representative, and allow analysis based on specific occupations. However, some data are not available for all occupations or for workers in occupations within specific industries. Therefore, the dashboard presents summaries for transit-related occupations across the entire U.S. economy (both transit workers and those employed in other industries). Data reflect annual averages. 

National Transit Database Data

NTD collects data on a variety of agency characteristics from transit systems across the U.S. Each year, NTD releases data on transit employment, some of which are used in this dashboard. All recipients of Urbanized Area Formula Program (5307) or Rural Formula Program (5311) funds are required to report to NTD. The reporting body includes 3,000 or more transit systems, but only Full Reporters (systems receiving Urbanized Area Formula Grants and operating more than 30 vehicles or either fixed guideway or high intensity busways) report employment data. NTD aggregates employees into broad categories (e.g., vehicle operations, vehicle maintenance), not by specific occupational classifications. Employment statistics reflect directly operated services only. Not all transit providers are required to report to NTD and thus these data do not reflect all transit employees in the U.S. For more information, please visit https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd.

NTD’s mode categories were grouped in this dashboard in the following ways: “bus” includes bus, bus rapid transit, commuter bus, and trolley bus; “light & streetcar rail” includes light rail and street car rail; and “other” includes Alaska Railroad, cable car, ferryboat, hybrid rail, inclined plane, monorail/automated guideway, and vanpool. This re-categorization simplifies the charts and makes them more straightforward to the viewer, particularly in light of the relatively small number of workers in many of the categories.

FTA requires full reporters to NTD to report labor into two categories: operating and capital. Operating labor is the personnel necessary to carry out the day-to-day requirements for providing transit service; it is made up of vehicle operations, vehicle maintenance, facility maintenance, and general administration. Capital labor is the personnel involved in the purchase of equipment and construction of facilities. The dashboard focuses primarily on the operating category, which encompasses most frontline transit workers. Several charts include total operating, which is the compilation of the 4 classifications under operating labor.

Council for Community and Economic Research

The Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) produces quarterly and annual cost-of-living (COL) indices. These indices are based on local economic context, reflecting different categories of consumer expenditures: groceries, housing, utilities, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous. TWC uses the county-level annual COL index to match up COL factors with transit agencies reporting to NTD and adjust raw wages to allow for more accurate benchmarking across peer agencies. COL-adjusted wages by agency are available on the Agency Explorer.

Key Terms

Mode: A system for carrying transit passengers described by specific right-of-way (ROW), technology and operational features.

Labor Classification: The occupational categories FTA uses to distinguish between different types of transit work. FTA defines two categories: operating labor and capital labor. The dashboard does not include capital labor.

Operating Labor: One of two labor classifications, FTA defines operating labor as the personnel necessary to carry out the day-to-day requirements for providing transit service. Transit agencies report operating labor in four functions (referred to as “job functions” on the Dashboard): vehicle operations, vehicle maintenance, facility maintenance, and general administration.

Vehicle Operations: All activities associated with vehicle operations, including: transportation administration and support; revenue vehicle movement control; scheduling of transportation operations; revenue vehicle operation; ticketing and fare collection; and system security.

Vehicle Maintenance: All activities associated with revenue and non-revenue (service) vehicle maintenance, including: administration; inspection and maintenance; and servicing (cleaning, fueling, etc.) vehicles. In addition, vehicle maintenance includes repairs due to vandalism and accident repairs of revenue vehicles.

Facility Maintenance: Component activities include: providing supervision and clerical support for the administration of transit way and structures maintenance and other buildings, grounds and equipment maintenance; preparing and updating records for transit way and structures maintenance and other buildings, grounds and equipment maintenance records; providing technical training to facilities maintenance personnel; and engineering maintenance of transit way and structures, and of other buildings, grounds and equipment.

General Administration: All activities associated with the general administration of the transit agency, including: transit service development; injuries and damages; safety; personnel administration; legal services; insurance; data processing; finance and accounting; purchasing and stores; engineering; real estate management; office management and services; customer services; promotion; market research; and planning.

Capital Labor: One of two labor classifications, capital labor is the personnel involved in the purchase of equipment (e.g., buses, shelters) and construction of facilities (e.g., garages, guideway, stations). The work activities for capital labor are design and engineering, purchase, land acquisition/relocation, construction, rehabilitation, and management of capital grants and projects.

Operator: Employee whose primary responsibility is the operation of revenue vehicles, including drivers, conductors, and ferry boat crews.

Non-Operator: Employee whose primary responsibility does not include the operation of revenue vehicles, such as mechanics, schedulers, and managers.

Directly Operated: Transportation service provided directly by a transit agency, using their employees to supply the necessary labor to operate the revenue vehicles. The Agency Explorer shows only directly operated statistics.

Full Reporter: Systems receiving Urbanized Area Formula Grants and operating more than 30 vehicles or either fixed guideway or high intensity busways.

Vehicles Operated in Annual Maximum Service (VOMS): The number of revenue vehicles operated to meet the annual maximum service requirement. This is the revenue vehicle count during the peak season of the year; on the week and day that maximum service is provided.

Unlinked Passenger Trips (UPT): The number of passengers who board public transportation vehicles. Passengers are counted each time they board vehicles no matter how many vehicles they use to travel from their origin to their destination.

Urbanized Area (UZA): An urbanized area is an incorporated area with a population of 50,000 or more that is designated as such by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

Definitions are from NTD’s Glossary or NTD’s Reporting Policy Manual.

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Current Employment

Transit Employment by Job Function, Transit Mode, and Employee Type in 2024

This section presents NTD data on the concentration of part-time/full-time work and in certain job functions and transit modes, as well as the overlap between such categories. These data reflect employment in directly operated services at Full Reporter agencies (systems receiving Urbanized Area Formula Grants and operating more than 30 vehicles or either fixed guideway or high intensity busways). For definitions of the occupational categories, please see the 2024 NTD Database File Dictionary. Please note that the “other” mode category contains: Alaska railroad, cable car, ferryboat, hybrid rail, inclined plane, monorail/automated guideway, and vanpool.  

Transit Employment by
Job Function

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025), Employee data 2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: More than half of transit workers are employed in vehicle operations (57.92%), followed by vehicle maintenance (17.4%), facility maintenance (13.09%), and general administration (11.59%).

Current Transit Employment Percentages,
Mode within Job Function

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025), Employee data 2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart presents the employment distribution in specific transit modes across job functions; each horizontal bar sums to 100% and shows the mode proportions in that job function. Transit employment within bus modes accounts for the majority of vehicle operations, vehicle maintenance, and general administration, while heavy rail employment is the majority in the facility maintenance classification.

Transit Employment by
Service Mode

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025), Employee data 2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: The transit mode that employs by far the most people is bus service (57.66% of transit employees), followed by heavy rail (19.2%), commuter rail (9.61%), light & streetcar rail (5.82%), demand response (5.16%), and other modes (2.55%).

Current Transit Employment Percentages,
Job Function within Mode

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025), Employee data 2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart presents the employment distribution of job functions across transit modes; each horizontal bar sums to 100% and shows the job function proportions in that transit mode. The largest proportion of work in all modes is vehicle operations employment, except for heavy rail, in which a slightly larger percent is facility maintenance employment. Vehicle operations make up the majority of employment in the bus, demand response, and other modes.

Full- and Part-Time Transit Employment
by Job Function

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025), Employee data 2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: Part-time work represents a small percentage of each job function. In particular, vehicle maintenance and facility maintenance are almost entirely staffed with full-time employment.

Full- and Part-Time Transit Employment
by Mode

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025), Employee data 2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: While full-time work is a significant majority of operating employment in all modes, part-time work is a relatively larger share of the demand response (15.38%) and other modes (11.06%) workforce.

Percent of Operator and Non-Operator Employment in Job Functions within Transit Modes

Toggle to show by mode

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025), Employee data 2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart shows the distribution of operator and non-operator employment across transit job functions for each transit mode category. Employment in vehicle maintenance, facility maintenance, and general administration is virtually all non-operator, with some variation in vehicle operations between modes. For bus and demand response modes, operators make up the majority of employment in vehicle operations, while non-operators make up closer to half in rail modes. Some modes have very small percentages of operators in non-vehicle-operations job functions; these are too small to appear on the chart.

Percent of Operator and Non-Operator Employment in Transit Modes

Toggle to show by mode

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025), Employee data 2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart shows the distribution of operator and non-operator employment across different transit modes. Operators make up more than half of employment in bus (58.97%) and demand response (64.73%) modes, close to one quarter in rail modes (except heavy rail, which is under one-fifth), and about half in other modes.

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Workforce Characteristics

Characteristics of Workers in Selected Transportation and Related Occupations in 2024

This section uses Current Population Survey data to describe the demographic composition of several key transportation and related occupations by race, Hispanic ethnicity, sex, age, veteran status, and parental status. Please note that demographic data are not available for all occupations, and that not all positions within the occupations listed are public transportation positions; data are not available at this level of specificity. These charts display data for occupations across the U.S. economy—for example, bus drivers employed by both transit agencies and intercity coach lines. Charts are ranked alphabetically by category.

Employment by Age

Source: TWC analysis of IPUMS Current Population Survey, 2025. Source data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from: University of Minnesota, www.ipums.org, April 11, 2025

Employment by Sex

Source: TWC analysis of IPUMS Current Population Survey, 2025. Source data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from: University of Minnesota, www.ipums.org, April 11, 2025

Employment by Race

Source: TWC analysis of IPUMS Current Population Survey, 2025. Source data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from: University of Minnesota, www.ipums.org, April 11, 2025

Employment by Ethnicity

Source: TWC analysis of IPUMS Current Population Survey, 2025. Source data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from: University of Minnesota, www.ipums.org, April 11, 2025

Employment by Veteran Status

Source: TWC analysis of IPUMS Current Population Survey, 2025. Source data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from: University of Minnesota, www.ipums.org, September 30, 2025

Employment by Parental Status

Source: TWC analysis of IPUMS Current Population Survey, 2025. Source data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from: University of Minnesota, www.ipums.org, September 30, 2025

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Employment Trends

Transit Employment Trends by Job Function and Mode (NTD)

This section uses data from the National Transit Database to show trends in the number of total, full-time, and part-time employment by job function and mode within the transit industry. Please note that the “other” mode category contains: Alaska railroad, cable car, ferryboat, hybrid rail, inclined plane, monorail/automated guideway, and vanpool.  

Full-Time and Part-Time Employment from 2018 to 2024

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025). Employee data, 2018-2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart shows full-time and part-time operating employment percentages in transit from 2018 to 2024 as reported to NTD. There were substantially more full-time employees each year than part-time employees, with part-time employees making up only about 4 to 7% of total employees. The proportion of part-time employees decreased steadily from 6.5% in 2018 to 3.8% in 2024.

Percent Change in Employment from 2018 to 2024

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025). Employee data, 2018-2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart shows the percent change in full-time and part-time operating employment, as well as total operating employment, from 2018 to 2024. Part-time employment decreased by nearly 40% from 2018 levels. Full-time employment, which constitutes most of the total, increased modestly over 2018 levels. Please note that because there are relatively few part-time employees compared to full-time employees, large percent changes can result from small numeric changes.

Percent of Employment
by Job Function from 2018 to 2024

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025). Employee data, 2018-2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart displays the percentage makeup of transit operating employment by job function from 2018 to 2024. Vehicle operations employment was the largest proportion each year, at nearly 60%, followed by vehicle maintenance employment at about 17%, then facility maintenance employment at about 13%, and lastly, general administration employment at about 11%. The proportion of each job function did not change drastically from year to year, though general administration and facility maintenance made up larger portions of employment in 2024 than in 2018.

Percent Change in Employment
by Job Function from 2018 to 2024

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025). Employee data, 2018-2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart displays the percent change from 2018 to 2024 in operating employment grouped by job function. Employment in general administration increased each year and was 23.27% higher in 2024 than in 2018. Employment levels in vehicle operations and vehicle maintenance decreased from 2018 to 2021 but then increased and were each about 3% higher in 2024 than in 2018. Employment in facility maintenance fluctuated for several years but increased beginning in 2020 and was 12.02% higher in 2024 than in 2018.

Percent of Employment
by Mode from 2018 to 2024

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025). Employee data, 2018-2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart displays the percentage makeup of transit operating employment by mode from 2018 to 2024. Bus employment made up the largest group each year, at nearly 60% of transit employment. Heavy rail employment makes up the next largest, with nearly 20%, followed by commuter rail (about 9%), light & streetcar rail (just over 5%), demand response (around 5%). Other modes make up about 2.5% of remaining employment. The proportion in each mode did not change drastically from year to year.

Percent Change in Employment
by Mode from 2018 to 2024

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025). Employee data, 2018-2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart displays the percent change from 2018 to 2024 in transit operating employment by mode. Employment in heavy rail and bus declined until 2021 but subsequently increased. Among transit modes, employment in commuter rail experienced the largest percentage decrease from 2018 to 2021 but increased from 2021 to 8.78% of 2018 levels in 2024. Demand response, light and streetcar rail, and other modes experienced fluctuations but increased substantially since 2021.

Percent of Operator
and Non-Operator Employment by Mode
from 2018 to 2024

Toggle to show by mode

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025). Employee data, 2018-2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart shows the proportion of operator and non-operator employment across different modes from 2018 to 2024. Bus and demand response modes had the highest proportion of operator employment while rail modes had the lowest proportion of operator employment. There was a very slight decrease in the overall percent of operator employment over time.

Percent Change in Operator
and Non-Operator Employment by Mode
from 2018 to 2024

Toggle to show by mode

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025). Employee data, 2018-2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart shows the percent change in operator, non-operator, and total employment across different modes from 2018 to 2024. For most modes, employment of operators decreased for several years before increasing more recently. Employment of non-operators in most modes was relatively stable between 2018 and 2021 and increased from 2022 to 2024, with the exception of commuter rail, where employment of non-operators was below 2018 levels from 2020 to 2022 before increasing.

More Full-Time and Part-Time Transit Employment Trends (NTD)

These sections include additional NTD data showing full-time and part-time operating employment trends from 2018 to 2024 by job function and mode. Please note that there are relatively few part-time employees compared to full-time employees and any trends shown may not be indicative of widespread patterns.

All Job Functions

Percent Change in Full-Time Employment
by Job Function from 2018 to 2024

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025). Employee data, 2018-2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: Since the majority of transit employees are full-time, this chart of percent change from 2018 to 2024 in full-time employment by job function is similar to the total employment job function chart seen above. Full-time employment in general administration increased each year from 2018 to 2024, while full-time employment in vehicle operations and vehicle maintenance was below 2018 levels from 2020 to 2022 for vehicle operations and 2020 to 2023 for vehicle maintenance.  Full-time employment in facility maintenance experienced fluctuation but increased from 2020 to 2024.

Percent Change in Part-Time Employment
by Job Function from 2018 to 2024

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025). Employee data, 2018-2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart displays the percent change from 2018 to 2024 in part-time employment by job function. Part-time employment in each job function was almost entirely below 2018 levels from 2019 to 2024, though some – vehicle maintenance and facility maintenance – began increasing in 2021. Part-time employment in vehicle operations experienced the largest decrease, 42% less than 2018 levels in 2024.

All Modes

Percent Change in Full-Time Employment
by Mode from 2018 to 2024

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025). Employee data, 2018-2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: Since the majority of transit employees are full-time, this chart of percent change from 2018 to 2024 in full-time employment by mode is similar to the total employment by mode chart seen above. Full-time employment in commuter rail experienced the largest decrease, reaching its lowest level in 2021 and increased afterwards to be above 2018 levels in 2023 and 2024. Demand response decreased in 2019 but subsequently increased. Employment in all other mode categories have generally increased since 2018.

Percent Change in Part-Time Employment
by Mode from 2018 to 2024

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025). Employee data, 2018-2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart displays the percent change from 2018 to 2024 in part-time employment by transit mode. Part-time employment generally decreased from 2018 to 2024. Part-time employment in bus decreased each year and was nearly 50% less in 2024 than in 2018. Part-time employment in commuter rail decreased by about 86% from 2018 to 2021 and remains nearly 60% lower in 2024 than in 2018. 

Separated by Job Function and Mode

Percent Change in Full- and
Part-Time Employment by Job Function from 2018 to 2024

Toggle to show by job function

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025). Employee data, 2018-2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart shows the percent change in full-time and part-time employment by job function, with full-time and part-time data shown for each job function separately, from 2018 to 2024. Part-time employment experienced substantial decreases for all job functions. Full-time employment was below 2018 levels in most years for vehicle operations and vehicle maintenance; following earlier decreases, full-time employment in these job functions was above 2018 levels in 2024. Full-time employment in facility maintenance and general administration began increasing in 2020 and 2018, respectively.

Percent Change in Full- and
Part-Time Employment by Mode from 2018 to 2024

Toggle to show by mode

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025). Employee data, 2018-2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart shows the percent change in full-time and part-time employment by mode, with full-time and part-time data shown for each mode separately, from 2018 to 2024. Part-time employment experienced substantial decreases for all modes, especially bus and commuter rail.  Full-time employment in all mode categories was above 2018 levels in 2024, following some dips around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic for some modes.

Operator and Non-Operator

Percent of Operator and Non-Operator
Full- and Part-Time Employment
from 2018 to 2024

Toggle to show operator versus non-operator data

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025). Employee data, 2018-2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart shows the proportion of full-time and part-time employment from 2018 to 2024 for operator and non-operator employees. The part-time share of operator employment was 9.64% in 2018 but decreased to 5.37% by 2024. Non-operator employment was nearly all full-time, with part-time labor more stable at roughly 2 to 3% each year.

Percent Change in Operator and Non-Operator
Full- and Part-Time Employment
from 2018 to 2024

Toggle to show operator versus non-operator data

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025). Employee data, 2018-2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart shows the percent change in full-time and part-time operator and non-operator employment from 2018 to 2024. Part-time operator and non-operator employment decreased from 2018 to 2024, with part-time non-operator employment increasing in 2023 before decreasing again. Despite decreases from 2019 to 2021, the overall trends for both full-time operator and non-operator employment were positive, with employment in 2024 4.28% and 13.85% higher, respectively, than in 2018.

Operator and Non-Operator by Mode

Percent Change in Operator Full- and Part-Time
Employment by Mode from 2018 to 2024

Toggle to show by mode

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025). Employee data, 2018-2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart shows the percent change in full-time and part-time operator employment by mode from 2018 to 2024. For most modes, part-time operator employment experienced greater decreases than full-time employment. Commuter rail experienced the greatest decreases in both full- and part-time employment, with full-time employment reaching 21.9% less in 2021 than in 2018 and remaining 11.43% less in 2024 than in 2018, and part-time employment at 99.87% less in 2024 than in 2018. Full-time operator employment in all other modes increased in 2024 compared to 2018, except heavy rail, which increased from 2023 to 2024 but remained nearly 5% lower than 2018 levels in 2024. Part-time operator employment in bus and heavy rail was much lower, 54% and 67% less respectively, in 2024 compared to 2018.

Percent Change in Non-Operator Full- and Part-Time
Employment by Mode from 2018 to 2024

Toggle to show by mode

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025). Employee data, 2018-2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart shows the percent change in full-time and part-time non-operating employment by mode from 2018 to 2024. For all modes, part-time non-operator employment experienced substantial decreases. Full-time non-operator employment for all modes, except commuter rail, was relatively stable or increasing from 2019 to 2024. Full-time non-operator employment in commuter rail experienced more fluctuation, dipping by nearly 6% in 2021 compared to 2018, but increased since then to be about 18% higher in 2024 than 2018. Part-time non-operator employment across modes experienced a lot of fluctuation as a percent of 2018 employment, likely due to representing a very small number of employees.

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Employment Projections

Future Projections of Employment in Selected Transportation and Related Occupations

This section presents BLS estimates for occupational openings due to growth (increased demand for workers) and separations (retirements, transfers to other occupations, or other departures from an occupation or the labor force) in several transportation and related occupations across the economy. Please note that not all positions listed within these occupations are public transportation positions, as not all data are available at this level of specificity. The majority of workers employed as operators (bus drivers, transit and intercity, and subway and streetcar operators), are employed in industries associated with transit (urban transit systems, and local government).

More information about BLS employment projection methodologies is available at this link.

Employment
Projections by Occupation

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections program estimates current occupational employment and projects future employment by occupation. Employment Projections data also include projected openings, which are comprised of projected employment change (additional or reduced jobs in an occupation) and occupational separations, which are comprised of labor force exits (workers leaving the workforce) and occupational transfers (workers leaving the occupation). This chart illustrates these relationships for a selection of transportation and related occupations. These same data points appear in subsequent charts. Please note that, due to rounding, the sum of labor force exits, occupational transfers, and employment change may differ slightly from projecting opening values indicated in subsequent charts.

Source: TWC analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025). Occupational Employment Projections Data – Table 1.10 Occupational separations and openings, projected 2024–34. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/emp/data/occupational-data.htm, August 29, 2025

2024 Employment and 2024
to 2034 Projected Openings

Source: TWC analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025). Occupational Employment Projections Data – Table 1.10 Occupational separations and openings, projected 2024–34. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/emp/data/occupational-data.htm, August 29, 2025

Chart description: This chart shows the number of workers employed in selected transportation and related occupations in 2024, and the total projected openings in those occupations between 2024 and 2034 (i.e. how many jobs will need to be filled to keep pace with growth and separations from the occupation). In some occupations—including bus operators—the projected openings exceed total 2024 employment.

2024 Employment and
Projected 2034 Employment

Source: TWC analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025). Occupational Employment Projections Data – Table 1.10 Occupational separations and openings, projected 2024–34. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/emp/data/occupational-data.htm, August 29, 2025

Chart description: This chart shows estimated 2024 employment and projected 2034 employment for selected transportation and related occupations. For all of the selected occupations, excluding non-fire, police, or ambulance dispatchers, employment in 2034 is projected to be higher than in 2024.

Projected 2024 to 2034 Openings
from Separations and
Employment Change

Source: TWC analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025). Occupational Employment Projections Data – Table 1.10 Occupational separations and openings, projected 2024–34. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/emp/data/occupational-data.htm, August 29, 2025

Chart description: This chart illustrates the fact that 2024-2034 projected openings include both projected separations (workers leaving the occupation and/or the workforce) and projected employment change (increased or decreased demand for workers in that occupation). In all cases, separations account for the vast majority of projected openings. 

Projected 2024 to 2034 Separations
from Occupational Transfers
and Labor Force Exits

Source: TWC analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025). Occupational Employment Projections Data – Table 1.10 Occupational separations and openings, projected 2024–34. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/emp/data/occupational-data.htm, August 29, 2025

Chart description: This chart shows that projected separations are comprised of labor force exits (workers leaving the workforce) and occupational transfers (workers leaving the occupation). Notably, occupations vary as to which type of separation accounts for a larger share. For transit and intercity bus drivers, labor force exits account for more separations.

Projected 2024 to 2034
Percent Employment Change

Source: TWC analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025). Occupational Employment Projections Data – Table 1.10 Occupational separations and openings, projected 2024–34. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/emp/data/occupational-data.htm, August 29, 2025

Chart description: This chart shows projected percentage change in employment in selected transportation and related occupations over ten years. All are projected to grow except non-fire, police, or ambulance dispatchers. Employment of bus drivers, transit and intercity is projected to increase by 4.3%. Please note that these percentages represent total, not annual, change from 2024 to 2034.

Projected 2024 to 2034
Annual Separation Rates

Source: TWC analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025). Occupational Employment Projections Data -Table 1.10 Occupational separations and openings, projected 2024–34. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/emp/data/occupational-data.htm, August 29, 2025

Chart description: This chart shows projected annual separation rates (percent of workers leaving the occupation each year). The highest is bus drivers, transit and intercity, at 12.4%. Please note that these are the projected annual (yearly) separation rates from 2024 to 2034.

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Wages & Training

Wages, Education, and Training

This section presents NTD data on wages for operating employees, and BLS data on wages, education, and training for transportation and related occupations. Please note that the “other” mode category contains: Alaska railroad, cable car, ferryboat, hybrid rail, inclined plane, monorail/automated guideway, and vanpool.  

Hourly Wage by
Job Function from 2018 to 2024

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025). Employee and Expense data, 2018-2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees, https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/data-product/2022-annual-database-operating-expenses)

Chart description: This chart shows average operating hourly wages from 2018 to 2024 for job functions in the transit industry. Hourly wages have increased for each job function since 2018. Facility maintenance and general administration workers consistently received the highest wages, from about $35.87 and $35.84 per hour in 2018 to $43.81 and $47.51 per hour respectively in 2024. Vehicle operations is the lowest paid job function at $37.49 per hour in 2024.

Hourly Wage by
Mode from 2018 to 2024

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2025). Employee and Expense data, 2018-2024 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees, https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/data-product/2022-annual-database-operating-expenses)

Chart description: This chart shows average operating hourly wages from 2018 to 2024 for modes in the transit industry. Commuter rail workers received the highest wages from 2018 to 2020 and heavy rail workers received the highest wages from 2021 to 2024. Next highest wages were light & streetcar rail and other modes and then bus and demand response. Hourly wages have increased for each mode since 2018.  

Education and Training Requirements, Educational Attainment, and Wages in Selected Transportation and Related Occupations

Source: TWC analysis of:

Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024). Employment Projections – Table 5.3 Educational attainment for workers 25 years and older by detailed occupation, 2021-22. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/educational-attainment.htm, November 15, 2024.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024). Employment Projections – Table 5.4 Education and training assignments by detailed occupation, 2023. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/education-and-training-by-occupation.htm, November 15, 2024.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024). Occupational Employment and Wage Statistic – May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-0000, November 15, 2024.

This table presents BLS data showing the typical education required for entry, distribution of education levels, typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency, and median hourly wage, in a number of transit-related occupations. Median wages range from $16.42 to $41.96 per hour across occupations. Most positions require moderate-term on-the-job training. Most transit positions require a high school diploma or equivalent.

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Agency Explorer

Agency Explorer

Welcome to the Agency Explorer, an analysis of operating employment data from the National Transit Database. This dashboard provides agency-level employment statistics from 2018 to 2024 for all directly operated services of full reporters to NTD.

For customized PDF reports, CSV/Excel exports, or other data requests, please contact us at twc@transportcenter.org.

How to Use the Agency Explorer

Dropdown Filters

The Agency Explorer can be filtered using dropdown menus for state, agency name, mode, labor classification/job function, and full-time/part-time. These filters will adjust all of the data in the four charts, table, and summary statistics, with some exceptions:

  • Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-time/part-time data are not reported for hourly wage and salary expenses. If a selection is made in that filter, the summary statistics will not be available and charts/tables showing wages and salaries will not update and will continue showing the total wages/salaries.

There are also dropdowns that use ranges of two statistics, employee count and urbanized area (UZA) population, to filter the data. These dropdowns use ranges to help select a smaller subset of agencies; the ranges are not consistent in size, but rather aim to split the number of agencies between them as evenly as possible. They use data from the most recent year an agency has reported to NTD.

Charts

The Agency Explorer features four charts with workforce statistics from 2018 to 2024:

  • Employee Count: The number of individuals who are compensated by the transit agency for directly operated (DO) transit services.
    • Please note that individual employees can be split between transit and non-transit departments, directly operated and paid transportation services, as well as between modes and job functions. The counts may include decimals, including the total count for an agency.
  • Labor Hours: The number of employee work hours, not counting paid leave, on directly operated services at the agency.
  • Average Hourly Wage: A calculated statistic of average hourly wages of directly operated employees at the agency, determined by dividing operating salary expenses by operating labor hours. Note: this chart does not distinguish full-time and part-time employees.
  • Salary Expenses: The total salary expenses by agency of employees who work on directly operated services at the agency, including cost of labor and excluding paid absences and fringe benefits. Note: this chart does not distinguish full-time and part-time employees.

Summary Statistics

The summary statistics (within the light green boxes on the right side of the page) show average and total data from 2024, with the exception of the number of agencies, which shows the number of agencies that have been selected by the filters.

More details about each statistic are described below:

  • Total Employees: This statistic shows the total number of employees in 2024 from each agency. Each filter affects this statistic. Again, please note that this is not the total number of transit employees in the country, but only the employees from directly operated services of full reporters to NTD.
  • Average Wage: This statistic calculates the average wage across each agency. Each filter except for the full-time/part-time dropdown affects this statistic.
  • Average Labor Hours: This statistic calculates the average labor hours across each agency, with each agency weighted equally. Each filter affects this statistic.
  • Average Salary Expenses: This statistic calculates the average salary expenses across each agency, with each agency weighted equally. Each filter except for the full-time/part-time dropdown affects this statistic.
  • Average Vehicles Operated in Annual Maximum Service (VOMS): This statistic calculates the average vehicles operated in annual maximum service across each agency, with each agency weighted equally.
  • Average Unlinked Passenger Trips (UPT): This statistic calculates the average unlinked passenger trips across each agency, with each agency weighted equally.
  • Population: This statistic calculates the average urbanized area (UZA) population weighted by agency. Each filter except for the labor classification/job function and full-time/part-time dropdowns affects this statistic. Population does not change by mode, but agencies without selected modes will not be included.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Wages

In response to suggestions from transit partners, TWC has now added a new cost-of-living (COL) adjustment feature to the Agency Explorer. This feature enables users to compare wages between transit agencies, weighted to account for local economic context. When a user selects an agency or set of agencies using the filters at the top of the page, these locations’ raw wages (green bars) will be adjusted (blue bars) using the COL factor provided in annual data procured from C2ER for the county where the agency headquarters is located. The formula used is:

COL adjusted wage = (Raw wage * 100) / County COL factor

100 is the baseline COL factor in an area that is essentially average nationally in cost-of-living; more expensive counties will have a higher index value and less expensive counties will have a lower one. For example, for an agency that has an average raw wage of $35/hour and a COL factor of 110, the COL adjusted average wage for that county would be $31.81, while an agency with an average raw wage of $35/hour and a COL factor of 95 has a COL adjusted average wage of $36.84. The comparison highlights that a $35/hour wage holds more purchasing power in a less expensive area than in a more expensive area. The same filters are operable in this feature as are operable in other charts.

The chart shows the 15 agencies with the greatest number of employees in 2024 in accordance with filter selections. Agencies are listed left to right from highest COL-adjusted wage to lowest.

Table

The table beneath the charts lists 2024 operating data for all full reporting transit agencies. Use the column headers to sort the table from largest to smallest or vice versa or select a specific agency to display it on the time series charts.

Please note that not all agencies reported data in 2024; there may be agencies that appear in the charts for previous years but not in the table.

General Notes

  • NTD collects workforce data from only directly operated services of full reports (see key terms). This means the Explorer does not include every transit worker in the country; and larger agencies are overrepresented; also, since many agencies contract out rather than directly operate demand response services, the counts, hours, and salary expenses displayed for that mode are incomplete.
  • The charts show a maximum of 10 agencies at a time.
    • The 10 agencies shown are the agencies with the highest employee counts that fit the filter criteria. The charts will all show the same 10 agencies using the same color for each appearance of an agency.
    • The summary statistics on the side show average and total data for, and the table at the bottom shows 2024 operating data for, all agencies selected by the filters, not just the top 10.
  • Some agencies did not report to NTD for each year shown. There may be gaps in the data for those cases, and the summary statistics on the side only use data agencies that reported to NTD in 2024.

Key Terms

Mode: A system for carrying transit passengers described by specific right-of-way (ROW), technology and operational features.

Labor Classification: The occupational categories FTA uses to distinguish between different types of transit work. FTA defines two categories: operating labor and capital labor. The dashboard includes only operating labor.

Operating Labor: One of two labor classifications, FTA defines operating labor as the personnel necessary to carry out the day-to-day requirements for providing transit service. Transit agencies report operating labor in four functions (referred to as “job functions” on the Dashboard): vehicle operations, vehicle maintenance, facility maintenance, and general administration.

Vehicle Operations: All activities associated with vehicle operations, including: transportation administration and support; revenue vehicle movement control; scheduling of transportation operations; revenue vehicle operation; ticketing and fare collection; and system security.

Vehicle Maintenance: All activities associated with revenue and non-revenue (service) vehicle maintenance, including: administration; inspection and maintenance; and servicing (cleaning, fueling, etc.) vehicles. In addition, vehicle maintenance includes repairs due to vandalism and accident repairs of revenue vehicles.

Facility Maintenance: Component activities include: providing supervision and clerical support for the administration of transit way and structures maintenance and other buildings, grounds and equipment maintenance; preparing and updating records for transit way and structures maintenance and other buildings, grounds and equipment maintenance records; providing technical training to facilities maintenance personnel; and engineering maintenance of transit way and structures, and of other buildings, grounds and equipment.

General Administration: All activities associated with the general administration of the transit agency, including: transit service development; injuries and damages; safety; personnel administration; legal services; insurance; data processing; finance and accounting; purchasing and stores; engineering; real estate management; office management and services; customer services; promotion; market research; and planning.

Operator: Employee whose primary responsibility is the operation of revenue vehicles, including drivers, conductors, and ferry boat crews.

Non-Operator: Employee whose primary responsibility does not include the operation of revenue vehicles, such as mechanics, schedulers, and managers.

Directly Operated: Transportation service provided directly by a transit agency, using their employees to supply the necessary labor to operate the revenue vehicles. The Agency Explorer shows only directly operated statistics.

Full Reporter: Systems receiving Urbanized Area Formula Grants and operating more than 30 vehicles or either fixed guideway or high intensity busways.

Vehicles Operated in Annual Maximum Service (VOMS): The number of revenue vehicles operated to meet the annual maximum service requirement. This is the revenue vehicle count during the peak season of the year; on the week and day that maximum service is provided.

Unlinked Passenger Trips (UPT): The number of passengers who board public transportation vehicles. Passengers are counted each time they board vehicles no matter how many vehicles they use to travel from their origin to their destination.

Urbanized Area (UZA): An urbanized area is an incorporated area with a population of 50,000 or more that is designated as such by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

For more information, please see NTD’s Glossary or NTD’s Reporting Policy Manual.

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