How much does a Rail transport operatives earn in the UK?
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£56,925
Typical Annual pay range
Understanding Rail transport operatives pay in the UK
The typical rail transport operatives in the UK earns a median salary of £56,925 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of rail transport operatives earnings fall between £42,745 and £72,179 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced rail transport operatives.
Where you work changes the picture: rail transport operatives pay ranges from £38,067 in East Midlands up to £69,191 in South East, a difference of £31,124 (82%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see rail transport operatives pay in South East or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
South East is the highest-paying region for rail transport operatives at £69,191 — 22% above the UK median. East Midlands is lowest at £38,067.
UK median £56,925
| Region | Median payUK median £56,925 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South East | £69,191 | £69,191 | £66,162 | +22% |
| London | £63,796 | £63,796 | £61,058 | +12% |
| West Midlands | £63,779 | £63,779 | £62,787 | +12% |
| North East | £61,477 | £61,477 | £61,765 | +8% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £54,167 | £54,167 | £58,277 | -5% |
| North West | £53,103 | £53,103 | £53,182 | -7% |
| Scotland | £42,542 | £42,542 | £45,362 | -25% |
| East of England | £41,707 | £41,707 | £46,892 | -27% |
| Wales | £40,191 | £40,191 | £45,535 | -29% |
| South West | £39,148 | £39,148 | £41,238 | -31% |
| East Midlands | £38,067 | £38,067 | £44,673 | -33% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| South East £69,191 | £69,191Mean £66,162 | +22% |
| London £63,796 | £63,796Mean £61,058 | +12% |
| West Midlands £63,779 | £63,779Mean £62,787 | +12% |
| North East £61,477 | £61,477Mean £61,765 | +8% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £54,167 | £54,167Mean £58,277 | -5% |
| North West £53,103 | £53,103Mean £53,182 | -7% |
| Scotland £42,542 | £42,542Mean £45,362 | -25% |
| East of England £41,707 | £41,707Mean £46,892 | -27% |
| Wales £40,191 | £40,191Mean £45,535 | -29% |
| South West £39,148 | £39,148Mean £41,238 | -31% |
| East Midlands £38,067 | £38,067Mean £44,673 | -33% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£56,925); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local rail transport operatives pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow rail transport operatives pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for rail transport operatives by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25%–75% range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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