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All About Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators
Job Description & Duties 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.
What Do Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators Do On a Daily Basis?
- Watch for and relay traffic signals to start and stop cars during shunting.
- Provide passengers with assistance entering and exiting trains.
- Operate and drive locomotives, diesel switch engines, dinkey engines, flatcars, and railcars in train yards and at industrial sites.
- Connect air hoses to cars, using wrenches.
- Ride atop cars that have been shunted, and turn handwheels to control speeds or stop cars at specified positions.
- Answer questions from passengers concerning train rules, stations, and timetable information.
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Things a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator Should Know How to Do
These are the skills Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Types of Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator Jobs
- Railroad Switchman
- Car Shunter
- Car Runner
- Nipper
- Railroad Carman
Job Demand for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 19,300 jobs in the United States for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator. 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.
Salary for a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator
The salary for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators ranges between about $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.
How much do Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators make in each U.S. state?
| 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 |
What Tools do Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators may use on a daily basis:
- Data entry software
- Route mapping software
- Time tracking software
- Electronic train management systems ETMS
Becoming a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator
Individuals working as a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator have obtained the following education levels:
What work experience do I need to become a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator?
Who Employs Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators?
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Similar 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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