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Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Maryland

Thinking about a career as a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Maryland? Here’s what you need to know. 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.

What do Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Make in Maryland?

For a railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers working in Maryland, the typical annual salary is $66,680 per year (or about $32.06/hour).Pay can range from $44,870 at the 10th percentile to $102,390 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$44,870	$21.57
25th percentile	$46,690	$22.45
Median (50th)	$66,680	$32.06
75th percentile	$73,460	$35.32
90th percentile	$102,390	$49.22

The job concentration index in Maryland relative to the national average — is 0.38, suggesting fewer railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers earn a median of $27,598 per year ($13.27/hour), above the Maryland median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 585,023 railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers across the United States. In Maryland alone, about 90 people work in this role. That’s below the typical state, which employs around 260 railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers.

Top States for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Employment

These states have the highest employment of railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers work.

State	Number Employed
Texas	2,050
Illinois	1,410
California	1,200
Missouri	540
Kansas	460
Washington	390
Pennsylvania	360
Wyoming	350
Nebraska	350
Iowa	330
Alabama	300
Kentucky	260
Colorado	250
New York	180
Florida	170
Ohio	140
Massachusetts	140
New Mexico	140
West Virginia	110
Wisconsin	90

Highest-Paying States for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

Where railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers earn the most: railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers.

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

Skills

Top railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Top abilities for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers typically:

• 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.
• Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains.
• Climb ladders to tops of cars to set brakes.
• Receive oral or written instructions from yardmasters or yard conductors indicating track assignments and cars to be switched.
• Inspect locomotives to detect damaged or worn parts.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Performing General Physical Activities

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Google Android In-demand technologies: Google Android

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Programs that train for this career include:

• Ground Transportation

Related Careers

Other careers like railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers include:

• Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
• Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
• Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
• Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
• Rail Car Repairers
• Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

Also Known As

Air Brake Operator, Air Hose Coupler, Area Brakeman, Brake Holder, Brake Rider, Brakeman, Car Coupler, Car Hopper, Car Rider, Car Runner, Car Shifter, Car Shunter, Carman, Conductor, Coupler.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 53-4022.00