All About Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators
Job Description: Operate railroad track switches. Couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains. Signal engineers by hand or flagging. May inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and hand brakes.
Life As a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator: What Do They Do?
- Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains.
- Climb ladders to tops of cars to set brakes.
- Adjust controls to regulate air-conditioning, heating, and lighting on trains for comfort of passengers.
- Connect air hoses to cars, using wrenches.
- Answer questions from passengers concerning train rules, stations, and timetable information.
- Ride atop cars that have been shunted, and turn handwheels to control speeds or stop cars at specified positions.
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Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator Needed Skills
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Railroad Carman
- Car Hopper
- Road Freight Brake Coupler
- Railway Switchman
- Railcar Switchman
Is There Going to be Demand for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators?
There were about 19,300 jobs for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator. The BLS estimates 1,700 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator are Nebraska, Texas, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Louisiana, Tennessee, or Wisconsin. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators Salary
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators make between $34,610 and $85,590 a year.
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators who work in South Carolina, Massachusetts, or Minnesota, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $48,250 |
| Arkansas | $45,000 |
| Florida | $39,450 |
| Georgia | $54,570 |
| Illinois | $63,030 |
| Indiana | $51,600 |
| Iowa | $49,980 |
| Kansas | $63,980 |
| Kentucky | $49,850 |
| Louisiana | $54,650 |
| Maryland | $60,100 |
| Massachusetts | $70,560 |
| Michigan | $60,940 |
| Minnesota | $67,900 |
| Missouri | $63,610 |
| Montana | $56,520 |
| Nebraska | $61,200 |
| New Jersey | $57,610 |
| New York | $72,170 |
| North Carolina | $57,250 |
| Ohio | $58,440 |
| Oklahoma | $61,580 |
| Oregon | $65,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,080 |
| South Carolina | $72,930 |
| Texas | $57,890 |
| Utah | $49,270 |
| Virginia | $46,540 |
| Washington | $66,160 |
| West Virginia | $49,550 |
| Wisconsin | $65,780 |
| Wyoming | $58,390 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators:
- Data entry software
- Route mapping software
- Time tracking software
- Electronic train management systems ETMS
Becoming a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator
What kind of Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator requirements are there?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator?
Where do Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators Work?
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators work in the following industries:
Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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