How Much Do London Tube Drivers Really Earn While Striking Over Pay?

London is once again brought to a standstill by a five-day strike of Tube drivers and London Underground staff. The question many people are asking is simple – how much do these workers actually make, and are their wages really so low that it justifies such drastic action? The truth, it turns out, is very different from what’s often said on the streets.

According to Transport for London, the starting salary for a fully qualified Tube driver is £71,160 per year. That places them among the best-paid workers in the public sector – and without the need for years of university education. The requirements are just GCSEs in Maths and English, passing medical checks, and completing training that can last between six months and two years. By comparison, a junior NHS doctor starts on £38,831–£44,439 – nearly half as much. Even specialist doctors, after years of study, only reach salaries that begin to match what a Tube driver earns from day one. Teachers, social workers, and many other professions that demand higher education and heavy responsibility remain far behind.

This isn’t just a UK issue. Around the world, metro drivers earn significantly less. In France, the average salary is about £43,600; in Germany, around £61,500; and in Japan, roughly £45,000. In the US and Canada, earnings typically range from £47,000 to £59,000. Only Denmark comes close to London levels, with salaries around £72,000.

But the strike isn’t only about money – it’s also about working hours. The RMT union is pushing for a 32-hour work week, effectively four days instead of five. TfL argues this is “financially impossible” and would cost hundreds of millions. Economists estimate the strike itself is already inflicting losses of more than £230 million on London’s economy, hitting small businesses the hardest.

Union leaders insist the issue goes beyond pay – they describe a “deadly combination” of staff shortages and exhaustion. They claim that since the pandemic, the workforce has shrunk by 2,000 people, leaving remaining drivers with grueling shifts starting at 4 a.m. and finishing after midnight. TfL disputes this, saying the real reduction is closer to 200 jobs and that new roles on the Elizabeth line and other services have offset the difference.

While the debate rages on, Londoners bear the brunt. Lines such as the Bakerloo, Central, Circle, District, Jubilee, Northern, and Victoria are shut down, while buses, the Elizabeth line, and National Rail are packed beyond capacity. For millions of commuters, it means delays, chaos, and disrupted plans.

The question remains: where is the balance between fair working conditions and the financial reality of the public budget?