FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  Competitive Pay Scales Help Advance Operator Recruitment Efforts

Baltimore, MD (June 5, 2023) – The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration has launched an aggressive recruitment campaign to hire bus operators and has increased bus and rail operator wages in response to the tight labor market challenging transit agencies nationwide.

The agency is announcing an agreement with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1300 to decrease the amount of time it takes for bus and rail operators to achieve higher pay rates and ultimately advance to the top rate for their job. The new structure took effect May 21.

The agreement includes a nearly 10% increase in the starting wage for all newly hired bus and rail operators. Bus operator wages will increase from $22.62 to $24.84 and rail operator wages will increase from $24.62 to $26.84. Current bus and rail employees also will receive increases in accordance with their years of service in addition to cost-of-living adjustment adjustments scheduled for July 1. The new structure means operators will earn top rate after only three years with the agency.

“Having a competitive pay structure is critical to growing our operator workforce,” said Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold. “We are committed to improving the transit experience and more operators will help us to provide the level of service our riders deserve.”

Maryland Transit Administration recruitment efforts have included a significant increase in outreach through job fairs, advertising and social media. On May 13, the agency held the first in a series of on-site bus operator hiring events designed to streamline the hiring process and decrease barriers to employment, issuing 86 conditional offer letters to bus operator candidates that day. The agency’s next hiring event will be announced shortly.

The Maryland Transit Administration also has added 100 new management positions to assist overall operations and service delivery, and 100 additional operator positions to accommodate increased service once the agency is fully staffed.

Maryland Transit Administration bus and rail operator positions come with great pay and career benefits. Individuals interested in applying or learning more about employment can visit mta.maryland.gov/join.

The Maryland Transit Administration is one of the largest multi-modal transit systems in the United States, operating Local Bus service, Commuter Bus, Light Rail, Metro Subway, MARC Train Service and a comprehensive Mobility paratransit system. The agency’s goal is to provide safe, efficient and reliable transit across Maryland with world-class customer service. To learn more, visit https://www.mta.maryland.gov, facebook.com/mtamaryland,  YouTube.com/TheMTAMaryland and follow us on Twitter @mtamaryland.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jerimiah Moerke                               
Office: 410-767-8367                         
Cell: 667-392-3625
jmoerke@mdot.maryland.gov

Paul Shepard
Office: 410-767-3935
Cell: 443-622-4181
pshepard@mdot.maryland.gov