How much do Tube drivers earn? UK salary explained

THE London Underground is an essential service when commuting in the capital.

Here, we look at how much drivers are paid and how you can become one.

Tube driver salaries can range from £55,000 to £65,000

How much do Tube drivers earn?

During the initial 12-16 weeks training, trainee drivers can earn up to £32,375.

They can also obtain free travel around London for themselves and a partner and have overtime rates of around £36 an hour.

A night train operator earns around £55,000 to £59,999 per year according to the Transport for London’s (TfL) 2022 Copy of Job Titles and Responsibilities of Senior Staff.

Those who are training a new employee carry more responsibility.

They earn from £60,000 to £64,999 a year to act as an inspector or operator.

There is another role, known as a trainer, and this person is in charge of not only offering training to newcomers, but also the whole driving team, to always keep them up-to-date with the latest updates.

They earn the same salary as an inspector.

They can retire on a reduced pension at the age of 50 or a full pension at 60 years old.

What hours do they work and how much holiday do they get?

Drivers usually work 36-hour weeks and have 43 days of annual leave, including bank holidays.

Shifts can start as early as 4.45am and end as late as 1.30am.

The drivers cannot drink alcohol for eight hours before a shift starts.

They are sometimes asked to work as many as 17 weekends in a row.

What are conditions like on the Underground?

Tube drivers are expected to maintain a high level of concentration in a dark cabin with nobody for company.

The work is repetitive, with the amount of driving varying between lines.

They also have to maintain a good level of focus and not be feared by the fact that they are responsible for many passengers aboard on the train.

How do you become a Tube driver?

Unless you already work for TfL, applying for a job is difficult as they are not usually advertised to the public.

Publicly advertised TfL roles include applying to become a customer service assistant.

You can look for TfL vacancies on their website.