Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
SOC code 53-4022 · O*NET-SOC 53-4022.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Transportation
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$68,840
a year
Hourly
$33.10
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$69,030
$33.19 per hour
Middle 50%
$57,820 – $76,590
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$45,660 – $86,590
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
12,400
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $45,660
- $21.95/hr
- 25th percentile
- $57,820
- $27.80/hr
- Median percentile
- $68,840
- $33.10/hr
- 75th percentile
- $76,590
- $36.82/hr
- 90th percentile
- $86,590
- $41.63/hr
What do railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers do?
Operate or monitor railroad track switches or locomotive instruments. May couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains. Watch for and relay traffic signals. May inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and hand brakes. May watch for dragging equipment or obstacles on rights-of-way.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.
- Inspect locomotives to detect damaged or worn parts.
- Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers.
- Operate and drive locomotives, diesel switch engines, dinkey engines, flatcars, and railcars in train yards and at industrial sites.
- 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.
- Monitor oil, temperature, and pressure gauges on dashboards to determine if engines are operating safely and efficiently.
- Pull or push track switches to reroute cars.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers earn?
The national median is $68,840 a year. The full range runs from $45,660 at the 10th percentile to $86,590 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Monitoring3.4/5
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.0/5
- Reading Comprehension2.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Transportation4.3/5
- Public Safety and Security4.0/5
- Administration and Management3.6/5
- English Language3.6/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.0/5
- Education and Training2.8/5
- Computers and Electronics2.6/5
Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Coordination, Operation and Control, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness.