Strikes hit public transport across Germany in late February. The dispute has since been resolved, as Deutsche Bahn and the GDL train drivers’ union reached a deal on pay.
But how much do tram, bus and train drivers actually earn in Germany?
According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), skilled bus and tram drivers earn around €3,638 gross per month on average as of April 2025. Drivers in the railway sector earn notably more — skilled train and locomotive drivers take home an average of up to €4,600 gross monthly.
Gross earnings are pre-tax and before social security deductions.
Bus, tram and train drivers earn less than the overall average
As of April 2025, the average gross earnings of full-time employees in Germany are €4,784.
This shows that both bus and tram drivers, as well as train drivers, earn less or on the very cusp of the overall average in the country.
Special payments may change the comparison, but based on gross earnings alone they earn less.
In addition to drivers, there are several occupations in the public transport sector, particularly 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 while this falls to €4,844 for skilled workers.
Inspection and maintenance of railway infrastructure in highly complex positions also pay well, with median monthly gross earnings of €6,074.
This declines to €5,292 for complex positions and to €3,618 for skilled workers.
The median earnings for surveillance and control of railway traffic positions are €5,503 while technical railway operations earn €4,188.
The lowest median earnings in the sector, based on available data, are for service in road and railway traffic positions at €3,568. This is slightly lower than the earnings of bus and tram drivers.
Complex railway jobs pay better
The data suggest 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. The median earnings of skilled drivers of train engines and other railway vehicles rank 667th while skilled bus and tram drivers rank 985th on the list.
Data from the ERI Economic Research Institute’s Salary Expert also provide insights. The average gross base salary for tram drivers in Germany is €3,053, while it is significantly higher for subway train drivers at €5,978.
Best paid: Aviation, healthcare and legal
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.
While it 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). Although their pay is 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.
