Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · 12K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$68,840
Median hourly
$33
Average annual
$69,030
Typical range
$45,660–$86,590
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers is $68,840 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $33 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Operate or monitor railroad track switches or locomotive instruments. May couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains.
Most earn between $45,660 and $86,590 a year. There are roughly 12K people employed as railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers.
- Hourly
- $33.10
- Daily
- $265
- Weekly
- $1,324
- Bi-weekly
- $2,648
- Monthly
- $5,737
- Annual
- $68,840
$68,840 a year is around the 50th percentile for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firerss. The median is $68,840.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Washington$85,140
- 2New York$83,530
- 3Iowa$80,910
- 4Maryland$79,180
- 5Illinois$76,290
- 6Colorado$76,140
- 7Georgia$75,540
- 8New Jersey$74,160
- 9New Mexico$72,340
- 10Texas$71,580
- 11Ohio$67,770
- 12Missouri$67,110
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$132,190
- 2New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$111,050
- 3Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$72,180
- 4Baton Rouge, LA$53,960
- 5Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$47,750
Related job titles
Employers advertise Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Locomotive Engineers$81,410
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers$60,600
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$78,000
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,770
- Hoist and Winch Operators$56,450
- Rail Car Repairers$67,530
- Subway and Streetcar Operators$86,380
- Signal and Track Switch Repairers$92,460
What a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers does
- Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers.
- Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.
- Pull or push track switches to reroute cars.
- Observe signals from other crew members so that work activities can be coordinated.
- Monitor trains as they go around curves to detect dragging equipment and smoking journal boxes.
- Inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly.
- Observe tracks from left sides of locomotives to detect obstructions on tracks.
- Operate locomotives in emergency situations.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers make?
- The median annual wage for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers is $68,840 ($33 per hour). Pay ranges from about $45,660 at the 10th percentile to $86,590 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $69,030, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firerss the most?
- Washington has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $85,140.
- Is Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 12K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers do?
- Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers.; Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.; Pull or push track switches to reroute cars..