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.

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. Our dashboard features relevant demographic data about the composition of the U.S. transit workforce sourced from BLS’ Current Population Survey; summaries of BLS’ occupational projections; and data about wages and typical education and training levels in selected occupations sourced from several BLS databases. These data are accurate, up-to-date, and nationally representative, and allow analysis based on specific occupations. However, demographic 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.

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 2023

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 2023 NTD Database File Dictionary. Please note that the “other” mode category contains several modes reported to NTD: 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 (2024), Employee data 2023 (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 (58.03%), followed by vehicle maintenance (17.46%), facility maintenance (13.34%), general administration and (11.17%).

Current Transit Employment Percentages,
Mode within Job Function

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024), Employee data 2023 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart presents 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 buses account for the majority of vehicle operations, vehicle maintenance, and general administration staff, while heavy rail employment is the majority in the facility maintenance classification.

Transit Employment by
Service Mode

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024), Employee data 2023 (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 (57.86% of transit employees), followed by heavy rail (19.29%), commuter rail (9.68%), light & streetcar rail (5.58%), demand response (5.09%), and other modes (2.49%).

Current Transit Employment Percentages,
Job Function within Mode

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024), Employee data 2023 (https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data?field_product_type_target_id=All&year=all&combine=employees)

Chart description: This chart presents 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 (2024), Employee data 2023 (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 (2024), Employee data 2023 (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 (16.28%) and other modes (14.37) 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 (2024), Employee data 2023 (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 facility maintenance, general administration, and vehicle maintenance 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. Note that some modes have very small percentages of operators in non-vehicle operations job functions and 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 (2024), Employee data 2023 (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 (59.3%) and demand response (64%) modes, close to one quarter in rail modes, and about half in other modes.

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Workforce Demographics

Demographic Characteristics of Workers in Selected Transportation and Related Occupations in 2024

This section uses BLS data to describe the demographic composition of several key transportation and related occupations by race, Hispanic ethnicity, sex, and age. 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 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025. Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey. Employed persons by detailed occupation and age [Annual averages for 2024]. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11b.htm, February 4, 2025

Employment by Sex

Source: TWC analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025. Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey. Employed persons by detailed occupation, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity [Annual averages for 2024]. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.htm, February 4, 2025

Employment by Race

Source: TWC analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025. Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey. Employed persons by detailed occupation, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity [Annual averages for 2024]. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.htm, February 4, 2025

Employment by Ethnicity

Source: TWC analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025. Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey. Employed persons by detailed occupation, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity [Annual averages for 2024]. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.htm, February 4, 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 several modes reported to NTD: Alaska railroad, cable car, ferryboat, hybrid rail, inclined plane, monorail/automated guideway, and vanpool.  

Full-Time and Part-Time Employment from 2014 to 2023

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024). Employee data, 2014-2023 (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 2014 to 2023 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 has decreased steadily each year from 7.3% in 2014 to 4.4% in 2023.

Percent Change in Employment from 2014 to 2023

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024). Employee data, 2014-2023 (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 employees, as well as the total of both, from 2014 to 2023. Part-time employees have decreased by about 40% from 2014 levels. Full-time employees, which constitute most of the total, have increased modestly over 2014 levels. Please note that there are relatively few part-time employees compared to full-time employees and any trends may be caused by changes in a small number of employees.

Percent of Employment
by Job Function from 2019 to 2023

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024). Employee data, 2019-2023 (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 employment by job function from 2019 to 2023. Vehicle operations employment is 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 does not change drastically from year to year, though general administration and facility maintenance make up larger portions of employment in 2023 than in 2019.

Percent Change in Employment
by Job Function from 2019 to 2023

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024). Employee data, 2019-2023 (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 2019 to 2023 in total employment grouped by job function. Employment in general administration has been increasing each year since 2019 to a 10.04% increase from 2019 in 2023, while employment in vehicle maintenance has generally been decreasing. Employment in vehicle operations is 2% less than 2019 in 2023 but has experienced increases since 2021. Employment in facility maintenance decreased in 2020 but has since increased to  2.87% more than 2019.

Percent of Employment
by Mode from 2019 to 2023

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024). Employee data, 2019-2023 (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 2019 to 2023. Bus employment makes up the largest group each year, at nearly 60% of transit employment. Heavy rail employment makes up the next largest, with nearly 20%. It is followed by commuter rail (about 9%), light & streetcar rail (just over 5%), demand response (around 5%), and then other modes make up about 2.5% of remaining employment. The proportion of each mode does not change drastically from year to year.

Percent Change in Employment
by Mode from 2019 to 2023

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024). Employee data, 2019-2023 (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 2019 to 2023 in transit operating employment by mode. Heavy rail and bus experienced a decrease in total employment from 2019 to 2023. Commuter rail had experienced the largest decrease since 2019 until 2022 and increased from 2019 levels in 2023. Demand response and other modes have generally increased since 2019.

Percent of Operator
and Non-Operator Employment by Mode
from 2019 to 2023

Toggle to show by mode

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024). Employee data, 2019-2023 (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 2019 to 2023. Bus and demand response modes have the highest proportion of operator employment while rail modes have the lowest proportion of operator employment. There was a very slight decrease in the percent of operator employment over time.

Percent Change in Operator
and Non-Operator Employment by Mode
from 2019 to 2023

Toggle to show by mode

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024). Employee data, 2019-2023 (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 2019 to 2023. Employment of operators generally decreased more than employment of non-operators, particularly in commuter rail. However, employment of both has generally increased for demand response and other modes, as well as increasing from 2022 to 2023 in some modes and total operating employment.

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 2019 to 2023 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 2019 to 2023

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024). Employee data, 2019-2023 (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 2019 to 2023 in full-time employment by job function is similar to the total employment job function chart seen above. Full-time employment in general administration has been increasing each year since 2019 while employment in vehicle maintenance has generally been decreasing. Full-time employment in vehicle operations had been decreasing but in 2023 is about the same as 2019. Full-time employment in facility maintenance decreased in 2020 but has since increased to  2.87% more than 2019.

Percent Change in Part-Time Employment
by Job Function from 2019 to 2023

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024). Employee data, 2019-2023 (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 2019 to 2023 in part-time employment by job function. All job functions have decreased since 2019, with large decreases for most in 2020. Part-time employment in facility maintenance dipped in 2021 though is nearly the same as 2019 in 2023. Part-time employment increased from 2022 to 2023 in vehicle maintenance and general administration and increased slightly in vehicle operations.

All Modes

Percent Change in Full-Time Employment
by Mode from 2019 to 2023

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024). Employee data, 2019-2023 (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 2019 to 2023 in full-time operating employment by transit mode. Full-time employment has not changed dramatically by transit mode. All modes have similar full-time employment levels at 2023 compared to 2019, except demand response, which experiences a 13.94% increase. Heavy rail full-time employment is the only one to decrease in 2013 from 2019, at 0.51% lower employment.

Percent Change in Part-Time Employment
by Mode from 2019 to 2023

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024). Employee data, 2019-2023 (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 2019 to 2023 in part-time operating employment by transit mode. as compared to full-time employment by mode, part-time employment experienced more fluctuation. Part-time employment in commuter rail decreased by about 80% in 2021 from 2019 and is about 40% lower in 2023 than in 2019. Part-time employment in the other modes category has generally increased since 2019 to 46.27% in 2023, while it has generally decreased for bus to -36.31% in 2023. Please note that the actual number of part-time commuter rail employees is very small and may be affected by only a small number of agencies.  

Separated by Job Function and Mode

Percent Change in Full- and
Part-Time Employment by Job Function from 2019 to 2023

Toggle to show by job function

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024). Employee data, 2019-2023 (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 2019 to 2023. The job functions shown are vehicle operators, vehicle maintenance, facility maintenance, and general administration, as well as total operating, which is made up of all 4 operating job functions. Employment captured by NTD generally declined, with part-time labor experiencing larger decreases in employment from 2019, though full-time employment for facility maintenance and general administration is slightly higher in 2023 than 2019.

Percent Change in Full- and
Part-Time Employment by Mode from 2019 to 2023

Toggle to show by mode

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024). Employee data, 2019-2023 (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 by mode, with full-time and part-time data shown for each mode separately, from 2019 to 2023. The occupations shown are bus, commuter rail, demand response, heavy rail, light & streetcar rail, and other, which is made of several smaller categories. The data generally skew downward over time, with part-time labor experiencing larger decreases in employment from 2019. Part-time employment in other modes has increased since 2019 and full-time employment has recovered in 2023 for some modes, mainly commuter rail and demand response.

Operator and Non-Operator

Percent of Operator and Non-Operator
Full- and Part-Time Employment
from 2019 to 2023

Toggle to show operator versus non-operator data

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024). Employee data, 2019-2023 (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 2019 to 2023 for operator and non-operator employees. Operator employment was 8.81% part-time in 2019, but decreased to 6.33% by 2023. Non-operator employment was nearly all full-time, with part-time stable at roughly 2 to 3%.

Percent Change in Operator and Non-Operator
Full- and Part-Time Employment
from 2019 to 2023

Toggle to show operator versus non-operator data

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024). Employee data, 2019-2023 (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 2019 to 2023. All operator employment decreased, with part-time employment decreasing more dramatically, about 32% percent from 2019 to 2023. Full-time non-operator employment remained about the same and increased in 2023, while part-time non-operator employment decreased by about 20% from 2019 to 2022, experiencing an increase in 2023 to -3.49% from 2019.

Operator and Non-Operator by Mode

Percent Change in Operator Full- and Part-Time
Employment by Mode from 2019 to 2023

Toggle to show by mode

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024). Employee data, 2019-2023 (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 2019 to 2023. Full-time employment experienced little fluctuation, though a bit more of a decrease for commuter rail, while part-time employment experienced more dramatic changes, particularly for bus and commuter rail, which decreased approximately 40% and 100% respectively. Part-time employment in other modes experienced an of about 35% from 2019 to 2023.

Percent Change in Non-Operator Full- and Part-Time
Employment by Mode from 2019 to 2023

Toggle to show by mode

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024). Employee data, 2019-2023 (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 2019 to 2023. For all modes, full-time non-operating employment is relatively steady while part-time employment decreases, except a general increase for other modes and an increase in 2023 for heavy rail.

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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 (2024). Occupational Employment Projections Data – Table 1.2 Employment by detailed occupation, 2023 and projected 2033; Table 1.10 Occupational separations and openings, projected 2023–33. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/emp/data/occupational-data.htm, September 12, 2024

2023 Employment and 2023
to 2033 Projected Openings

Source: TWC analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024). Occupational Employment Projections Data – Table 1.2 Employment by detailed occupation, 2023 and projected 2033; Table 1.10 Occupational separations and openings, projected 2023–33. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/emp/data/occupational-data.htm, September 12, 2024

Chart description: This chart shows the number of workers employed in selected transportation and related occupations in 2023, and the total projected openings in those occupations between 2023 and 2033 (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 2023 employment.

2023 Employment and
Projected 2033 Employment

Source: TWC analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024). Occupational Employment Projections Data – Table 1.2 Employment by detailed occupation, 2023 and projected 2033; Table 1.10 Occupational separations and openings, projected 2023–33. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/emp/data/occupational-data.htm, September 12, 2024

Chart description: This chart shows estimated 2023 employment and projected 2033 employment for selected transportation and related occupations. For all of the selected occupations, employment in 2033 is projected to be higher than in 2023.

Projected 2023 to 2033 Openings
from Separations and
Employment Change

Source: TWC analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024). Occupational Employment Projections Data – Table 1.2 Employment by detailed occupation, 2023 and projected 2033; Table 1.10 Occupational separations and openings, projected 2023–33. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/emp/data/occupational-data.htm, September 12, 2024

Chart description: This chart illustrates the fact that 2023-2033 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 2023 to 2033 Separations
from Occupational Transfers
and Labor Exits

Source: TWC analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024). Occupational Employment Projections Data – Table 1.2 Employment by detailed occupation, 2023 and projected 2033; Table 1.10 Occupational separations and openings, projected 2023–33. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/emp/data/occupational-data.htm, September 12, 2024

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.

Projected 2023 to 2033
Percent Employment Change

Source: TWC analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024). Occupational Employment Projections Data – Table 1.2 Employment by detailed occupation, 2023 and projected 2033; Table 1.10 Occupational separations and openings, projected 2023–33. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/emp/data/occupational-data.htm, September 12, 2024

Chart description: This chart shows projected percentage change in employment in selected transportation and related occupations over ten years. All are projected to grow. Employment of bus drivers, transit and intercity is projected to increase by 5.2%. Please note that these percentages represent total, not annual, growth from 2023 to 2033. 

Projected 2023 to 2033
Annual Separation Rates

Source: TWC analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024). Table 1.10 Occupational separations and openings, projected 2023–33. Retrieved from: https://www.bls.gov/emp/data/occupational-data.htm, September 12, 2024

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 11.9%. Please note that these are the projected annual (yearly) separation rates from 2023 to 2033. 

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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 several modes reported to NTD: Alaska railroad, cable car, ferryboat, hybrid rail, inclined plane, monorail/automated guideway, and vanpool.  

Hourly Wage by
Job Function from 2019 to 2023

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024). Employee and Expense data, 2019-2023 (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 operating hourly wages from 2019 to 2023 for job functions in the transit industry. Hourly wages have increased for each job function since 2019. Facility maintenance and general administration workers consistently received the highest wages, from about $37 per hour in 2019 to $42.36 and $45.61 per hour respectively in 2023. Vehicle operations is the lowest paid job function at $36.80 per hour in 2023.

Hourly Wage by
Mode from 2019 to 2023

Source: TWC analysis of National Transit Database (2024). Employee and Expense data, 2019-2023 (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 operating hourly wages from 2019 to 2023 for modes in the transit industry. Commuter rail workers generally received the highest wages, starting at $41.27 per hour in 2019 to $45.82 per hour in 2023. Heavy rail follows, starting at $39.80 per hour in 2019 and surpassing commuter rail in 2021 to reach $46.35 per hour in 2023. Next are light & streetcar rail and other modes, which consist of several smaller categories, and then bus and demand response. Hourly wages have increased for each mode since 2019.  

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

Employment Data by Agency (Beta)

Welcome to the Agency Explorer (Beta version), an analysis of operating employment data from the National Transit Database. This dashboard provides agency-level employment statistics from 2019 to 2023 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 2022:

  • 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 2022, 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 2023 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 2023 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 2023 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 2023; 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 2023 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 2023.

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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