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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.
Life As a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator: What Do They Do?
- Provide passengers with assistance entering and exiting trains.
- Watch for and relay traffic signals to start and stop cars during shunting.
- Monitor oil, air, and steam pressure gauges, and make sure water levels are adequate.
- Climb ladders to tops of cars to set brakes.
- Refuel and lubricate engines.
- Inspect tracks, cars, and engines for defects and to determine service needs, sending engines and cars for repairs as necessary.
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Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator Needed Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators say are important on the job.
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.
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.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
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.
Other Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator Job Titles
- Locomotive Operator Helper
- Railcar Switchman
- Freight Brakeman
- Yard Person
- Trains Service Conductor
Is There Job 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,700 job openings in this field each year.
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 average yearly salary of a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator ranges between $34,610 and $85,590.
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
How do I Become a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator?
What education is needed to be a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator?
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References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
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