How much do Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers make?
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers earn a median annual salary of $68,840 in the United States, which works out to roughly $33.10 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $45,660 at the entry level and $86,590 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $57,820 and $76,590 a year.
That is $7,450 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers salary range by percentile
Half of all Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers earn between $57,820 and $76,590 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,660 | $21.95 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $57,820 | $27.80 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $68,840 | $33.10 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $76,590 | $36.82 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,590 | $41.63 |
Highest-paying states for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers pay at $85,140 a year, followed by New York ($83,530) and Iowa ($80,910). At the other end, Wyoming posts the lowest median at $45,490 — a gap of $39,650 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $85,140 | $40.93 | +24% |
| 2 | New York | $83,530 | $40.16 | +21% |
| 3 | Iowa | $80,910 | $38.90 | +18% |
| 4 | Maryland | $79,180 | $38.07 | +15% |
| 5 | Illinois | $76,290 | $36.68 | +11% |
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 24 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 12,000 people work as Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in the United States. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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