Train Drivers

ANZSCO ID 731311

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
10,000
Future Growth
N/A
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
94%
Female Share
8%
Average age
48

Summary

Train Drivers drive trains to transport passengers and freight on railways.

Also known as: Locomotive Driver.

Specialisations: Electric Train Driver, Fireperson (Railway), Locomotive Observer, Rail Car Driver, Steam Train Driver.

A certificate III or IV in rail or train driving is usually needed to work as a Train Driver.

Tasks

  • Stops at stations and set locations to pick up and set down passengers and freight.

  • Opens and closes doors before and after passengers board or disembark.

  • Observes signals, track conditions, nearby traffic and prescribed speeds to ensure safety.

  • Monitors indicator gauges, changes controls and power supply poles and reports operating irregularities.

  • Checks time and adherence to timetables.

  • May advise passengers on destinations.

Characteristics

Job Type
Machinery Operators And Drivers
Skill Level
Lower skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
n/a
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Practical
  • Administrative
Physical Demand
  • Light
  • Medium

Outlook

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Train and Tram Drivers, under the outlook section.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 94% of people employed as Train Drivers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 28 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 46 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.


Industries

Main industries

1
Transport, Postal and Warehousing
73.9%
2
Mining
10.2%
3
Manufacturing
6.1%
4
Financial and Insurance Services
4.6%
5
Other industries
4.2%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

33.4% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

16.0% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

29.9% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

5.7% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

14.1% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

0.7% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.3% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

0.0% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Train Drivers All Jobs Average
NSW 33.4 31.6
VIC 16.0 25.6
QLD 29.9 20.0
SA 5.7 7.0
WA 14.1 10.8
TAS 0.7 2.0
NT 0.3 1.0
ACT 0.0 1.9


  • Around 63% of Train Drivers live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.

    Queensland and Western Australia have a large share of employment relative to their population size.

    The regions with the largest share of workers are:

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
48
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
8%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Train Drivers is 48 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 45 to 54 years.

    Females make up 8% of the workforce. This is 40 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.

Age Profile (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Train Drivers All Jobs Average
15-19 0.3 5.0
20-24 1.8 9.3
25-34 15.0 22.9
35-44 21.9 22.0
45-54 32.2 21.6
55-59 17.0 9.0
60-64 8.5 6.0
65 and Over 3.2 4.2
Median Age 48 40

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Employment Pathways

Education, training and experience

A certificate III or IV in rail or train driving is usually needed to work as a Train Driver.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Transport and Logistics Training Package VET training pathways.

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Type of Qualification Train Drivers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 1.3 10.1
Bachelor degree 4.6 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 6.1 11.6
Certificate III/IV 42.7 21.1
Year 12 16.3 18.1
Year 11 6.3 4.8
Year 10 and below 22.7 12.5

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.


Skills and Knowledge

Employers look for Train and Tram Drivers who can interact with customers, provide good customer service and are well presented.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 59%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 57%

    Operation monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

  • 54%

    Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.

  • 50%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 46%

    Active listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • 45%

    Critical thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • 43%

    Judgment and decision making

    Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.

  • 43%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 43%

    Active learning

    Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.

  • 43%

    Complex problem solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • 43%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 43%

    Learning strategies

    Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.

  • 43%

    Quality control analysis

    Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.

  • 41%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 39%

    Time management

    Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.

  • 37%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 37%

    Troubleshooting

    Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.

  • 37%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 37%

    Mathematics

    Using maths to solve problems.

  • 36%

    Management of personnel resources

    Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 69%

    Transportation

    Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.

  • 55%

    Public safety and security

    Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.

  • 49%

    English language

    English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • 47%

    Education and training

    Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • 43%

    Mechanical

    Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • 41%

    Customer and personal service

    Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.

  • 37%

    Administration and management

    Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.

  • 33%

    Computers and electronics

    Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • 32%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 31%

    Geography

    Describing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.

  • 27%

    Law and government

    How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.

  • 26%

    Clerical

    Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.

  • 26%

    Personnel and human resources

    Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.

  • 23%

    Engineering and technology

    Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.

  • 22%

    Psychology

    Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.

  • 20%

    Chemistry

    Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.

  • 19%

    Telecommunications

    Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

  • 19%

    Physics

    The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.

  • 18%

    Communications and media

    Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.

  • 16%

    Production and processing

    Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 64%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 63%

    Reaction time

    Quickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.

  • 57%

    Control precision

    Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.

  • 57%

    Response orientation

    Quickly choose the right movement of the hand, foot, or other body part when there are two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures).

  • 57%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 57%

    Auditory attention

    Pay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.

  • 55%

    Multilimb coordination

    Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.

  • 55%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 55%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 54%

    Perceptual speed

    Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

  • 54%

    Rate control

    Change when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.

  • 50%

    Depth perception

    Decide which thing is closer or further away from you, or decide how far away it is.

  • 50%

    Flexibility of closure

    See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.

  • 48%

    Near vision

    See details that are up-close (within a few feet).

  • 48%

    Problem spotting

    Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.

  • 46%

    Sorting or ordering

    Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • 45%

    Inductive reasoning

    Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.

  • 43%

    Manual dexterity

    Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

  • 43%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.

  • 41%

    Hearing sensitivity

    Tell the difference between sounds.


Activities

These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.

  • 78%

    Controlling equipment or machines

    Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).

  • 76%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

    Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

  • 73%

    Handling and moving objects

    Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.

  • 69%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

    Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.

  • 68%

    Looking for changes over time

    Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.

  • 65%

    Checking compliance with standards

    Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

  • 61%

    Checking for errors or defects

    Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.

  • 61%

    Communicating within a team

    Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 60%

    Collecting and organising information

    Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.

  • 60%

    Making decisions and solving problems

    Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.

  • 60%

    Doing physically active work

    Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.

  • 58%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 56%

    Making sense of information and ideas

    Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.

  • 52%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

    Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.

  • 52%

    Training and teaching others

    Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.

  • 52%

    Coordinating the work of a team

    Getting members of a group to work together to finish a task.

  • 49%

    Planning and prioritising work

    Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.

  • 48%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

    Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.

  • 48%

    Explaining things to people

    Helping people to understand and use information.

  • 46%

    Documenting or recording information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.


Interests and demands

Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

  • 100%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

  • 67%

    Administrative

    Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.

  • 33%

    Analytical

    Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

  • 33%

    Enterprising

    Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • 24%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

  • 19%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 86%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

  • 62%

    Relationships

    Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • 62%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 52%

    Independence

    Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.

  • 48%

    Recognition

    Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.

  • 38%

    Achievement

    Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 97%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

    Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.

  • 97%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

    Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.

  • 96%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 96%

    Health and safety of others

    Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.

  • 95%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 95%

    In an enclosed vehicle or equipment

    Work in a closed vehicle (e.g., car).

  • 92%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

    Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.

  • 92%

    Contact with people

    Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.

  • 90%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 89%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 89%

    Very hot or cold temperatures

    Work in very hot or cold temperatures.

  • 89%

    Outdoors, exposed to weather

    Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.

  • 88%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 87%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 87%

    Spend time sitting

    Spend time sitting at work.

  • 87%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 87%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 87%

    Lead or coordinate a team

    Lead others to do work activities.

  • 81%

    Consequence of error

    Work where mistakes have serious consequences.

  • 80%

    Dangerous equipment

    Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 53-4011.00 - Locomotive Engineers.


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