Politics & Government
TriMet Jobs: Agency Raises Starting Pay For New Drivers, Ups Bonuses
TriMet announced Friday it needs to hire 300 more drivers to bring levels to where they were before the pandemic.
PORTLAND, OR — Like driving a bus? Want to make $25.25 per hour? TriMet said that it very much needs your help.
The agency announced Friday it will raise the starting pay for new bus operators and increase the signing bonus for those who stay employed with them.
TriMet will pay all new bus operators $25.24 per hour as of Friday. That's $4 more than the $4 bonus newly hired operators were given last fall, the agency said.
Find out what's happening in Portlandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
New operators will also be given a $7,500 signing bonus if they remain on the job. That's an increase of $4,000, TriMet said.
TriMet has 300 fewer bus operators than it did before the pandemic and is trying to fill those positions, the agency said.
Find out what's happening in Portlandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The agency's contract with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757 said that operators can reach a top rate of $33.65 per hour, or base pay of at least $68,000 per year before overtime, in less than three years.
TriMet has a website set up for more information.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
