What is a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator?
Occupation 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
- Inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly.
- Receive oral or written instructions from yardmasters or yard conductors indicating track assignments and cars to be switched.
- Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.
- Inspect tracks, cars, and engines for defects and to determine service needs, sending engines and cars for repairs as necessary.
- Provide passengers with assistance entering and exiting trains.
- Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed.
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Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator Skills
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.
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.
Types of Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator
- Brake Rider
- Set Rider
- Yard Coupler
- Railcar Foreman
- Railroad Brake Operator
Job Opportunities 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.
What is the Average Salary of a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator
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
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
What education or degrees do I need to become a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator?
What work experience do I need to become a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator?
Who Employs Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators?
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators work in the following industries:
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
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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