Understanding the Earnings of Public Transport Workers in Germany
In late February, public transport systems across Germany faced disruptions due to strikes. However, the conflict was eventually resolved when Deutsche Bahn and the GDL train drivers’ union reached an agreement on wages. This incident raises questions about the earnings of tram, bus, and train drivers in the country.
According to data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), skilled bus and tram drivers earn around €3,638 gross per month as of April 2025. In contrast, skilled train and locomotive drivers take home an average of up to €4,600 gross monthly. It’s important to note that these figures are pre-tax and do not include social security deductions.
Earnings Below the National Average
The average gross earnings for full-time employees in Germany stand at €4,784 as of April 2025. This indicates that both bus and tram drivers, as well as train drivers, earn less than or are close to this national average. While special payments might affect this comparison, the data shows that their gross earnings alone are below the overall average.
In addition to drivers, there are various other roles within the public transport sector, especially in railways. Among nine other relevant occupations, employees in railroad construction in highly complex positions earn the most, with median monthly gross earnings of €6,229. This figure drops to €4,844 for skilled workers.
Other high-paying positions in the railway industry include inspection and maintenance of railway infrastructure in highly complex roles, which offer a median monthly gross earning of €6,074. This decreases to €5,292 for complex positions and further to €3,618 for skilled workers.
Positions such as surveillance and control of railway traffic have a median monthly gross earning of €5,503, while technical railway operations earn €4,188. The lowest median earnings in the sector are for service in road and railway traffic positions at €3,568, which is slightly lower than the earnings of bus and tram drivers.
Complex Railway Jobs Offer Better Pay
The data suggests that, on average, highly complex positions in the railway industry are better paid than the overall average for full-time employees. However, both bus and tram drivers and railway drivers earn below this overall average, along with other non-complex positions.
The official data cover more than 1,300 job titles. Skilled drivers of train engines and other railway vehicles rank 667th in terms of median earnings, while skilled bus and tram drivers rank 985th on the list.
Additional insights come from the ERI Economic Research Institute’s Salary Expert. According to their data, the average gross base salary for tram drivers in Germany is €3,053, whereas it is significantly higher for subway train drivers at €5,978.
Highest-Paid Sectors in Germany
According to Destatis, aviation is the top-paying sector in Germany, followed by healthcare, legal, and judiciary. Pilots have the highest median annual gross earnings in Germany at €27,459. Although this reflects Eurostat estimates for 2021, train drivers in Germany are among the highest paid in the EU.
In nominal terms, Germany ranks fourth, while it ranks second when measured in purchasing power standards (PPS). Despite being comparatively high across Europe, their salaries remain below the national average in Germany.
In the UK, employees in the rail and Tube sectors earn significantly more than the national median income. The median gross annual earnings for full-time employees reached £37,430 (€44,211) in April 2024 according to the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Train and tram drivers earned a median salary of £63,958 (€75,545). These rail roles rank among the UK’s top 20 highest-paid occupations. Rail drivers also earn more than barristers and judges, whose median salary stands at £59,423 (€70,189), a difference of £4,535.
