Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink Driver Pay (NSW)
Under the Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink Enterprise Agreement 2025, from the first pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Operates from 7 August 2025; nominal expiry 1 July 2028.
| Classification | Weekly | Weekly with industry allowance | A year (derived) | Take-home a year | Full breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver, 1st year trainee | $1,699.05 | $1,797.30 | $88,351 | $69,559 | $90,000 page |
| Driver, 1st year competent | $1,734.80 | $1,833.05 | $90,210 | $70,823 | $90,000 page |
| Driver, 2nd year | $1,818.70 | $1,916.95 | $94,572 | $73,789 | $95,000 page |
| Driver, thereafterThe rate for an experienced driver | $1,861.35 | $1,959.60 | $96,790 | $75,297 | $95,000 page |
| Driver Trainer | $2,082.20 | $2,180.45 | $108,274 | $83,107 | $110,000 page |
| Principal Driver (including Intercity) | $2,157.05 | $2,255.30 | $112,167 | $85,754 | $110,000 page |
Schedule 4A, weekly rates from the first pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Annual = weekly rate without the industry allowance × 52, our figure; the agreement publishes weekly rates.
Four cumulative 4% increases, from the first pay period on or after 1 May 2024, 1 July 2025, 1 July 2026 and 1 July 2027 (cl 11.1). From 1 July 2027 a driver (thereafter) moves to $1,935.80 a week, or $2,038.00 with the industry allowance.
Metro Trains Melbourne Driver Pay (VIC)
Under the Metro Trains Melbourne Rail Operations Enterprise Agreement 2023, from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Operates from 6 March 2024; nominal expiry 30 June 2027.
| Classification | Hourly | A year | Take-home a year | Full breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee Driver | $39.9192 | $78,880 | $63,118 | $80,000 page |
| Qualified Driver Level 1 | $46.5975 | $92,077 | $72,092 | $90,000 page |
| Qualified Driver (SPOT)After 6 months as a qualified driver, subject to assessment | $68.6521 | $135,657 | $101,681 | $135,000 page |
| Principal Driver (TSO, reference rate) | $84.6967 | $167,361 | $121,020 | $165,000 page |
Schedule B, Train Driver, July 2026 column: hourly and annual rates as printed (annual = hourly × 1,976, i.e. 38 hours × 52).
Increases of 1.75% from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026 and again from 1 January 2027 (cl 1.7.1). From January 2027 a trainee driver is paid $80,261, a Qualified Driver Level 1 $93,688 and a Qualified Driver (SPOT) $138,031.
Train Driver Pay After Tax
Take-home figures use 2026–27 resident tax rates with the low income tax offset and the Medicare levy, no HECS, on the base rate alone. Actual pay can be higher once shift, weekend and overtime payments under the agreement are added. Enter your own gross in the take-home pay calculator, or see the overtime pay calculator for extra shifts.
Operators Not Shown
- Queensland Rail: the agreement that covers train drivers was still being negotiated in July 2026, so there is no current table to publish.
- Yarra Trams (Melbourne tram drivers): the agreement runs to 30 June 2027, but we could not read its rate table unambiguously, so we have not published it.
- NSW TrainLink regional drivers, Transperth, Adelaide Metro and freight operators: not yet checked.
If your operator isn’t listed, find its agreement with our enterprise agreement guide. Other transport pay is on the truck driver page and the road transport award rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Train driver pay questions and answers
How much does a train driver earn in Australia?
It depends on the operator's enterprise agreement. A Sydney Trains driver (thereafter) is paid $1861.35 a week from 1 July 2026, about $96,790 a year, or $1959.60 a week with the industry allowance. A Metro Trains Melbourne Qualified Driver Level 1 is paid $92,077 a year, and $135,657 at the Qualified Driver (SPOT) rate after 6 months, subject to assessment.
How much does a Sydney Trains driver earn?
From the first pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink Enterprise Agreement 2025 pays a first-year trainee driver $1,699.05 a week, a driver (thereafter) $1,861.35 and a Principal Driver $2,157.05, before the industry allowance. With the allowance the driver (thereafter) rate is $1,959.60 a week.
How much do trainee train drivers get paid?
A first-year trainee driver at Sydney Trains is paid $1,699.05 a week from 1 July 2026 ($1,797.30 with the industry allowance). A Metro Trains Melbourne trainee driver is paid $39.9192 an hour, $78,880 a year, from July 2026.
When do train drivers get a pay rise?
Sydney Trains drivers get 4% from the first pay period on or after 1 July 2027 under the 2025 agreement. Metro Trains Melbourne drivers get 1.75% from July 2026 and another 1.75% from January 2027, the last increase before the agreement's nominal expiry on 30 June 2027.
How we worked this out▼
Rates are copied from each enterprise agreement’s own table for the date shown. Sydney Trains publishes weekly rates, so its annual figure is weekly × 52 and is labelled as derived; Metro Trains publishes annual rates, used as printed.
General information, not advice: rosters, allowances and penalty rates change what an individual driver earns.
Sources & References
- 1Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink Enterprise Agreement 2025 (AE529763) — Schedule 4A— Fair Work Commission
- 2Metro Trains Melbourne Rail Operations Enterprise Agreement 2023 — Schedule B— Rail, Tram and Bus Union (Victorian Locomotive Division), copy of the approved agreement
Last verified: 24 September 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
Anita Bell
AuthorFounder & Senior Bookkeeper
Accountancy degree (2015); certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One
Anita Bell earned her accountancy degree in 2015 and has worked as a senior bookkeeper with Prime Bookkeeping for over 5 years. This built her skills in Australian and New Zealand tax legislation and industry regulations. She is certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One, and works with payroll and rostering software including Gusto, Deputy, Tsheets and KeyPay. She has strong experience in hospitality, building and construction, financial services, real estate, ecommerce, and medical and health services.
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