Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary in Ohio (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Ohio, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Ohio Median
$67,770
per year
Hourly Rate
$32.58
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-2% vs US median
US median $68,840
State Rank
#11 of 24
280 employed here

How much do Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers make in Ohio?

Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Ohio take home a median of $67,770 annually — roughly $32.58 an hour — which runs 2% below the national median of $68,840.

Within Ohio, entry-level pay starts around $49,600 while the top 10% make $70,430 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $49,640 and $70,210 a year.

Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers salary range in Ohio

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$49,600$23.85
25th percentile (early career)$49,640$23.87
50th percentile (median)$67,770$32.58
75th percentile (experienced)$70,210$33.75
90th percentile (top earners)$70,430$33.86

How Ohio compares

Ohio ranks 11th out of 24 states and territories for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1Washington$85,140
2New York$83,530
3Iowa$80,910
4Maryland$79,180
5Illinois$76,290

Working as Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Ohio

Nationally, about 12,000 people work as Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.

Considering a move? Compare Ohio pay ($67,770) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers make in Ohio?
The median Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers salary in Ohio is $67,770 per year, or about $32.58 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $49,600 at the entry level to $70,430 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Ohio pay compare to the national average?
Ohio pays Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers about 2% less than the national median of $68,840. Ohio ranks 11th out of 24 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Ohio a good state for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $67,770 a year. About 280 Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers are employed in Ohio. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Ohio?
The highest-paying occupations in Ohio include Surgeon, All Other ($554,220), Cardiologist ($504,260), Anesthesiologist ($490,530), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.

← See the national Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers salary report

Related salaries

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

$92,460
median pay · 37,000 employed

Transportation Worker, All Other

$45,650
median pay · 14,000 employed

Rail Transportation Worker, All Other

$56,360
median pay · 1,000 employed

Motorboat Operator

$47,520
median pay · 2,000 employed

Airfield Operations Specialist

$56,850
median pay · 15,000 employed

Material Moving Worker, All Other

$41,800
median pay · 23,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.