How much money does MTA make per year?

The annual operating revenue of the public transportation operator in New York (MTA) amounted to almost 5.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2021. This represented a significant increase amid the COVID-19 pandemic of around 22.14 percent compared to the previous year.



The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in New York City operates on an astronomical scale, with an annual operating budget of approximately $19.9 billion as of 2025-2026. However, the agency’s "revenue" comes from several distinct streams. Pure "operating revenue"—money earned directly from services—is projected to be around $8 billion to $9 billion annually. This is primarily comprised of "farebox revenue" from subway, bus, and commuter rail riders (roughly $5.5 billion) and toll revenue from bridges and tunnels (about $2.8 billion). Because fares alone do not cover the immense cost of running the system, the MTA relies heavily on "dedicated taxes" and subsidies. This includes about $8.6 billion to $9 billion from sources like the Payroll Mobility Tax, real estate taxes, and a portion of petroleum business taxes. In 2025, the introduction of Central Business District Tolling (congestion pricing) was projected to add an additional $1 billion annually to fund capital improvements. Despite bringing in nearly $20 billion in total funding, the MTA often faces budget gaps due to rising debt service payments and the high cost of maintaining infrastructure that serves over 1.6 billion riders annually.

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The largest share of MTA revenue — $7.222 billion — comes from dedicated taxes and subsidies the Authority receives from the cities and states that we serve. Another $6.870 billion comes from fares and tolls. Federal COVID-related aid, which the MTA received in 2020 and 2021, adds up to $2.877 billion.

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About the report on MTA Fare and Toll Evasion Losses to the MTA's operating budget are staggering, with nearly $700 million in revenue not collected in 2022 alone. This includes $315 million lost in bus fares, $285 million in subway fares, $46 million in bridge and tunnel tolls, and $44 million in railroad fares.

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As a public-benefit corporation, the MTA operates on a loss to provide an economic value that is critical to the infrastructure of New York City.

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For the last 40 years, the MTA has taken out loans to help pay for new tracks, stations, trains and buses — and maintain the ones it already owns. Money from fares, tolls and taxes pays back the lenders, plus interest. That business model worked until the pandemic sent ridership plummeting.

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Rising debt: The only way out By charging passengers less than the actual cost of the service, the MTA is subsidizing countless industries that rely on workers who are not able to live closer to their jobs. This is by no means unique to New York City, as most public mass-transit systems around the world make no profit.

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A variety of factors drive MTA's cost structure, including the age and size of the system, 24/7 operation, and the difficulty maintaining so many different — and older — models of train cars and other equipment, said MTA Communications Director Tim Minton.

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The report also found that the MTA lost $690 million to fare evasion in 2022. Joana Flores, an MTA spokesperson, said the AI system doesn't flag fare evaders to New York police, but she declined to comment on whether that policy could change.

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$92K. The estimated total pay for a MTA is $92,003 per year in the New York City, NY area, with an average salary of $74,528 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users.

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Subways and buses Fare for most riders on subways and local, limited, and Select Bus Service buses: $2.90. Express buses cost $7. Tap to pay your fare with your contactless credit/debit card, smartphone, or OMNY card, or pay with a MetroCard.

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The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system in the New York City boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. It is owned by the government of New York City and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, an affiliate agency of the state-run Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

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MTA is a corporate entity separate and apart from the State of New York (the State), without any power of taxation frequently called a public authority. MTA has the responsibility for developing and implementing a unified mass transportation policy for The City of New York (the City) and Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, ...

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The current crisis: MTA is projecting a $2.6B annual funding gap in the near future. After debt restructuring and operating efficiencies are implemented, they still expect the gap to be $1.2B. The table below illustrates the 2019 actual and 2023 expected revenue.

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2022 Total ridership was 52.5 million customers, increasing +50.0% above 2021's 35.0 million ridership.

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Transit workers will receive raises of 3% in the contract's first year, 3% in the second year and 3.5% in the third and final year. The bonus comes after the union demanded hazard pay from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The MTA branded the one-time bump as an “essential worker” bonus.

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The subway is owned by the city of New York and leased to the New York Transit Authority. It is one of the oldest subway systems and one of the largest in the world, with about 472 stations in operation.

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