TriMet now offers $7,500 hiring bonus for mechanics and other select maintenance positions

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Increased bonus for many union maintenance positions and training opportunities aims to bolster TriMet’s ability to provide reliable transit service

At TriMet, we are dedicated to providing safe and reliable transit service. The backbone to that is our amazing Maintenance team. To increase its ranks, we are increasing our hiring bonus for select maintenance positions to $7,500, up from $2,500. Eligible maintenance jobs include mechanic, technician and maintainer positions, along with apprentices and trainees for those positions. 

The increased hiring bonus comes as pay increases go into effect for all TriMet union positions Dec. 1, 2024, as part of our new Working and Wage Agreement with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 757. In addition to medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance plans at low or no monthly cost, the new four-year contract brings new benefits and opportunities:

  • Increased employer contribution to union employees’ 401(a) retirement plans.
  • Tuition reimbursement of up to $5,250
  • Child care subsidy of up to $150 per month

TriMet also supports employees by offering pathways for career advancement. In-person and virtual learning classes are offered throughout the year, free of charge, to all employees. Mentoring opportunities are available for many employees. Certain jobs, like transportation supervisor, are 100% filled through internal promotions.

Building our workforce to keep region moving

Earning a $7,500 bonus is a fantastic way to start a career at TriMet. We continue to offer it to both bus and MAX operators. As we bring more operators on board, we must increase our staffing at maintenance positions that support bus, MAX, WES and Portland Streetcar operations too.

TriMet is committed to providing a transit system that meets the needs of our regions, both now and in the future. That’s why we are investing in a skilled workforce that supports bus and rail service throughout our service area. We plan to add more service in the coming months and years, even after extending the MAX Red Line and creating new bus lines in August — one of the biggest service expansions in TriMet’s history.

Join the top-rated Oregon-based employer!

Forbes Magazine recently ranked TriMet as the No. 1 Oregon-based employer in the state, as well as Oregon’s best “Transportation and Logistics” employer. That ranking is based on a survey of employees in each state.

With well over 3,500 employees, TriMet isn’t just one of Oregon’s best-rated employers — we’re one of Oregon’s largest employers, too.

TriMet provides transit service throughout a 533-square-mile area, which includes parts of Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties. That service includes bus lines, five MAX light rail lines, the WES commuter rail line and LIFT paratransit service. We also provide employees and training for the Portland Streetcar, which is owned by the City of Portland and operated separately from TriMet.

Buses and trains don’t run by themselves! We count on our more than 2,800 union workers not only to operate our vehicles, but also to maintain them and keep our system ship-shape.

From bus mechanics to rail technicians and beyond, many of the jobs that keep TriMet and our community moving now offer a $7,500 hiring bonus. You can see a full list of open positions at trimet.org/careers.