Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $68,840 | $33.10 |
| Mean (average) | $69,030 | $33.19 |
| 90th percentile | $86,590 | $41.63 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 24 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $56,050 | $44,050 | $104,250 | 240 | 1.41 |
| California | $58,770 | $51,480 | $70,000 | 1,340 | 0.92 |
| Colorado | $76,140 | $48,150 | $97,940 | ||
| Florida | $58,250 | $43,180 | $95,380 | 130 | 0.17 |
| Georgia | $75,540 | $52,940 | $109,270 | 250 | 0.63 |
| Illinois | $76,290 | $48,410 | $99,430 | 1,210 | 2.48 |
| Indiana | $64,530 | $60,200 | $77,760 | 160 | 0.64 |
| Iowa | $80,910 | $50,660 | $82,240 | 220 | 1.74 |
| Kansas | $66,990 | $62,400 | $72,800 | 390 | 3.44 |
| Kentucky | $56,410 | $56,240 | $63,000 | 170 | 1.08 |
| Louisiana | $54,260 | $39,840 | $63,250 | 210 | 1.37 |
| Maryland | $79,180 | $49,920 | $104,260 | 100 | 0.44 |
| Michigan | $66,970 | $40,890 | $117,650 | 190 | 0.53 |
| Missouri | $67,110 | $67,050 | $67,290 | 730 | 3.12 |
| New Jersey | $74,160 | $52,850 | $81,440 | 70 | 0.19 |
| New Mexico | $72,340 | $50,070 | $76,590 | 100 | 1.47 |
| New York | $83,530 | $47,570 | $137,890 | 220 | 0.29 |
| North Carolina | $54,810 | $36,780 | $87,560 | 110 | 0.29 |
| Ohio | $67,770 | $49,600 | $70,430 | 280 | 0.64 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,470 | $33,950 | $73,530 | 350 | 0.72 |
| Texas | $71,580 | $39,570 | $71,860 | 1,650 | 1.47 |
| Washington | $85,140 | $62,360 | $85,140 | 740 | 2.61 |
| West Virginia | $46,900 | $40,010 | $79,020 | 120 | 2.21 |
| Wyoming | $45,490 | $40,090 | $70,070 | 400 | 17.78 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Railroad and Railway Transportation CIP 49.0208
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.
- Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers.
- Inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly.
- Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains.
- Pull or push track switches to reroute cars.
- Observe signals from other crew members so that work activities can be coordinated.
- Conduct brake tests to determine the condition of brakes on trains.
- Monitor trains as they go around curves to detect dragging equipment and smoking journal boxes.
Technology skills
- Google Android (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Electronic train management system software
- Electronic train management systems ETMS
- Route mapping software
- Time tracking software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Coordination, Operation and Control, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management.
Common job titles: Brakeman, Carman, Fireman, Locomotive Switch Operator, Railroad Brakeman, Railroad Switchman, Switch Operator, Switchman, Terminal Carman, Yard Switcher.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers make?
The national median annual wage for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers was $68,840 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $45,660 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $86,590. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers to change +0.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($85,140), New York ($83,530), Iowa ($80,910). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.