They pay up to 14,500 PLN. You can earn good money on trains.
Drivers' salaries in all companies consist of base salaries and various benefits, of which there are many. At Koleje Mazowieckie, for example, base salaries constitute only about 40% of the full gross salary.
"Fixed remuneration elements during nominal working hours range from PLN 5,700 to PLN 7,100 gross per month, depending on length of service. Variable remuneration elements range from PLN 4,400 to PLN 5,400 gross per month," says Marcin Józefowicz, spokesman for PKP SKM in the Tricity area.
Polregio and PKP Intercity can boast the largest number of drivers - 1,900 and 1,485 people, respectively.
- Among drivers with less than one year of experience in this position, the average gross salary in July, including additional components, was PLN 11,347, and for other drivers it was PLN 14,536 gross - indicates Maciej Dutkiewicz from PKP Intercity.
The Local Government Portal examined the staffing and earnings of train drivers at railway companies operating passenger transport. Among these are many local government-owned carriers that transport passengers in specific regions . We asked about the salary that newcomers to this position can expect, the average salary, including benefits, in the previous month (calculated by dividing the total amount spent on this type of work by the number of train drivers employed), the current staffing levels, whether there are any vacancies, and the level of interest in this type of work.
Not all companies responded to our questions. Koleje Małopolskie, for example, stated that there was a "need to conduct a legal analysis of the possibility of disclosing the requested information," so they set a deadline for resolving the matter only for early October. Polregio did not provide salary data "due to legal regulations regarding trade secrets."
That's how much Koleje Mazowieckie pays. The base salary is only 40% of the full salary.
Drivers' salaries in all companies consist of base salaries and various benefits, of which there are many. At Koleje Mazowieckie, for example, base salaries constitute only about 40% of the full gross salary . Benefits are based on the nature and type of work performed and length of service.
We employ 652 train drivers. Their average salary in 2025 was over PLN 11,700 gross.
- says Donata Nowakowska, director of the KM Spokesperson's Office.
So far, the average salary of Koleje Mazowieckie drivers in 2025 was over PLN 11,700 gross.
A long list of salary components at PKP Intercity. Those employed for less than a year earn an average of approximately PLN 11,300.
Maciej Dutkiewicz, Director of the PKP Intercity Communications Office, points out that not all remuneration components are due in each monthly salary. The most common components are:
statutory bonus,
quarterly bonus,
seniority allowance,
coal allowance,
mileage allowance,
allowance for one-person traction operation,
overtime allowance,
allowance for night work,
compensation for additional leave,
allowance for onerous and dangerous conditions,
allowance for the care of a trainee driver,
anniversary awards,
Railwayman's Day bonus (due to this holiday, employees have their working hours reduced by 8 hours).
"Among drivers with less than a year of experience in this position, the average gross salary in July, including additional components, was approximately PLN 11,347. The average salary in July for other drivers, including additional components, was approximately PLN 14,536 gross ," calculates Maciej Dutkiewicz.
For the former, this amounts to an average of just under PLN 8.1 thousand net and over PLN 10.2 thousand on average for drivers with longer experience - calculated using an online calculator.
The salaries of drivers at Koleje Śląskie start at an average of PLN 4,500.
As for Koleje Śląskie , in addition to their basic salary, drivers may receive a bonus, allowances for night work and overtime pay, also with appropriate allowances.
A person starting work as a train driver can expect a base salary of approximately PLN 10,000-11,000 gross per month . For train driver candidates, i.e., those undergoing vocational training, the base salary is approximately PLN 4,500-5,500 gross per month.
- informs Maciej Pezdek from the Silesian Railways.
The company calculates that in July 2025, the average gross monthly salary of a train driver, taking into account all components, was in the range of PLN 12.5-14.5 thousand (nearly PLN 8.9-10.2 thousand net) . For train driver candidates, it amounted to approximately PLN 4.5-5 thousand gross.
New drivers with qualifications and remuneration at the level of those already working
At Koleje Wielkopolskie, drivers receive a basic salary plus a fixed, statutory bonus and a frequency allowance.
"Newly hired drivers with qualifications (license + driver's certificate) receive remuneration equivalent to that of drivers already employed by the company. After seven years of service in this position, they may be promoted to the position of senior driver," explains KW spokesman Dariusz Kaszyński.
The average salary of this carrier's drivers in August this year amounted to over PLN 13,000 gross .
SKM drivers in Warsaw can count on these salary components and bonuses.
Fast Urban Railway in Warsaw (also a local government company)- apart from the basic salary - it also indicates the entire list of remuneration components:
night hours allowance,
overtime allowance,
allowance for practical training in the case of supervision of an assigned trainee driver,
discretionary bonus,
holiday pay,
prize,
anniversary award (15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th anniversary),
ZZ membership fee,
laundry equivalent.
Average gross monthly salary of train drivers in selected railway companies, including allowances
The company also provides a number of benefits. Among the "bonuses," drivers can also count on :
a city card for yourself and your children entitling you to free WTP travel,
additional payment (in the form of a supplement) for tickets for travel to and from work (outside the zone covered by the city card),
a private medical care package for yourself and the option to purchase a package for family members on preferential terms,
co-financing for courses, training, studies and qualification development,
co-financing for the Multisport card,
co-financing for stays in health resorts (for railway workers),
benefits from the Company Social Benefits Fund.
On average, almost PLN 12,000 gross for a train driver starting work
As indicated by the company's spokesperson, Karol Adamaszek, the average total salary of a train driver starting work in the Warsaw SKM is nearly PLN 12,000 gross and less than PLN 8,300 net.
Of course, it depends on many factors, such as the tax rate for people under 26, deductions, etc.
- the spokesman notes.
In general, the average monthly salary of a train driver in July 2025 amounted to over PLN 13.2 thousand gross and almost PLN 9.1 thousand net .
At PKP Szybka Kolej Miejska in Tricity, fixed components of a driver's salary include base salary, a statutory bonus, and a length-of-service allowance. Variable components include bonuses for night work, Sundays and public holidays, mileage allowances, and hours worked on the vehicle, as well as non-periodic bonuses such as anniversary bonuses, retirement/disability benefits, holiday pay, and overtime pay.
SKM in Tricity. Permanent elements constitute over 50% of the salary.
"Fixed remuneration elements during nominal working hours range from PLN 5,700 to PLN 7,100 gross per month, depending on length of service. Variable remuneration elements – excluding non-periodic elements – total approximately PLN 4,400-5,400 gross per month," says Marcin Józefowicz, company spokesman.
A novice driver who begins a driver's license course can expect a net salary of PLN 3,400-3,600, depending on tax regulations.
During the practical portion of the course, the salary increases thanks to benefits. A fully qualified driver starting work earns approximately PLN 7,300 net during nominal hours.
- indicates the spokesman.
The average net salary calculated for nominal working time, i.e. without overtime and non-periodic components, in June 2025 amounted to PLN 8,075 (i.e. less than PLN 11.4 thousand gross).
1,900 drivers in Polregio and 1,485 in PKP Intercity
When it comes to the employment of train drivers, it's no surprise that the largest number of them work for companies operating nationwide and regional routes. The leaders in this regard are Polregio, with approximately 1,900 drivers, and PKP Intercity, with 1,485 employees in these positions.
"The size and potential need for increased employment for this position is determined primarily by operational work performed, as well as natural employee turnover. Demand therefore varies depending on the voivodeship," explains Polregio.
Koleje Śląskie employs 308 train drivers . "We are recruiting to increase employment in this professional group, in part due to the expansion of the route network and natural staff turnover," says Maciej Pezdek of Koleje Śląskie.
652 drivers work for Koleje Mazowieckie, over 350 for Koleje Wielkopolskie (including trainees), 175 for PKP SKM in Tricity (including 36 trainees) and 131 for the Warsaw SKM .
Number of drivers employed in selected railway companies
They recruit and train for jobs. An effective information campaign
- The position of a train driver is one of the key positions in our company, but representatives and specialists from other industries that are essential for the operation of transport and passenger service are also interested in working with us - says Director Dutkiewicz from PKP Intercity.
Intercity conducts regular recruitment, but also launches courses for driver's licenses and certificates.
"We are recruiting train drivers on an ongoing basis, and we are also organizing training in this area. We are seeing interest in train driving among young people starting their professional careers," Polregio points out.
Koleje Śląskie (Silesian Railways) is actively promoting the train driving profession. This includes an information campaign aimed at potential candidates, which has received approximately 50 applications since April of this year.
We're launching more train connections every year. In December of this year, trains will be running on the new Leszno-Głogów line, and additional connections will also be added to the currently operated lines. Therefore, we're interested in hiring more licensed drivers.
- argues Dariusz Kaszyński from Koleje Wielkopolskie.
He adds that there is great interest in the train driver course, but there are not enough people ready to start working with a train driver's license and certificate , which is why the company trains new train drivers by organizing regular courses for this position.
Natural staff turnover typical of every "healthy" organization
"We conduct systematic and active recruitment for positions related to train operation, i.e., train drivers and train managers, with a view to the natural turnover of personnel—typical of any healthy organization," emphasizes Karol Adamaszek from SKM Warszawa. "This allows us to maintain optimal staffing levels in these positions and minimize the risk of personnel shortages. " In April, SKM launched a train driver certification course, with 20 participants selected from 57 applicants .
SKM Warszawa employs 131 drivers
In order to recruit new employees to fill the shortage of train drivers, Koleje Mazowieckie also regularly organizes vocational training courses enabling the acquisition of a train driver's license and certificate.
- In 2025, such activities have already been implemented, further training is planned for next year - says KM spokesperson Donata Nowakowska.
36 trainees at the Tricity SKM to fill staff shortages
In the group of 175 PKP SKM drivers in Tricity, there are 36 apprentices who are training to obtain a driver's certificate .
- They are currently undergoing supervised driving training, and they will become full drivers after passing state exams, planned between July and December 2026 - points out spokesman Marcin Józefowicz.
The Tricity SKM is experiencing staffing shortages, but the company assures that these needs will be met once the trainees obtain their qualifications .
"We are constantly monitoring the situation and, if necessary, launching training," Józefowicz emphasizes, adding that interest in train driver jobs is very high. "In the last recruitment process in the first quarter of 2025, over 100 candidates applied. Ultimately, 19 people were hired because some failed medical examinations or resigned. Currently, no recruitment is underway."
