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Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers: Job Description
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 Daily Work of Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Do?
The core tasks performed by railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers cover:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Air Brake Operator
- Air Hose Coupler
- Area Brakeman
- Brake Holder
- Brake Rider
- Brakeman
- Car Coupler
- Car Hopper
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 585,023 railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +8.0% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $27,598 |
| Hourly median | $13.27 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $22,723 |
| 75th percentile | $32,472 |
| 90th percentile | $37,346 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $97,690 |
| New Jersey | $79,990 |
| Iowa | $77,150 |
| Nebraska | $70,450 |
| Texas | $69,840 |
| Colorado | $69,040 |
| Maryland | $66,680 |
| Missouri | $65,480 |
| Kansas | $65,370 |
| New Mexico | $65,240 |
| Wisconsin | $65,150 |
| Florida | $64,290 |
| West Virginia | $62,480 |
| Indiana | $61,650 |
| Washington | $61,210 |
| Illinois | $60,130 |
| Mississippi | $59,690 |
| California | $57,720 |
| Kentucky | $56,090 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,990 |
| Alabama | $48,460 |
| Wyoming | $48,420 |
| Ohio | $48,410 |
| North Carolina | $36,290 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $97,690 | 1.5% | 0.48 |
| Southwest | $69,545 | 23.1% | 1.84 |
| Plains States | $68,777 | 17.7% | 3.24 |
| Great Lakes | $59,405 | 17.3% | 2.52 |
| Far Western US | $58,576 | 16.7% | 0.95 |
| Rocky Mountains | $57,011 | 6.3% | 9.43 |
| Southeast | $55,023 | 9.9% | 1.33 |
| Middle Atlantic | $44,328 | 7.6% | 0.51 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $108,350 | 70 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | UT | $76,860 | 50 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | PA | $61,360 | 40 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $57,390 | 600 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | TX | $54,230 | 270 |
Top Industries Employing Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
Most railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 11,640 | $65,370 |
| Manufacturing | 50 | $50,530 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Operating system software: Google Android (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Education and Training
This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining (Supplemental)
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (Supplemental)
- Rail Car Repairers (Primary-Long)
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers (Supplemental)
- Signal and Track Switch Repairers (Primary-Long)
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers commonly pursue programs in:
Transportation and Materials Moving
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 53-4022.00 (Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers).
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