53 Series · SOC 53-4022
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $68,840
- Median / year
- +5.1%
- 2024→2025
- $86,590
- Top 10% earn
- +1%
- Growth '24–'34
- 12,400
- Estimated US jobs
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers earn a median of $68,840 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $68,840, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $45,660 (10th percentile) to $86,590 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 12,400 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Washington ($85,140).
The pay verdict
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers earn a median of $68,840, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 61% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Transportation and Material Moving, it ranks #12 of 50 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 1% by 2034.
- $68,840
- Median annual wage
- Top 39%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #12 of 50
- in Transportation and Material Moving
- 1.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Washington at $85,140. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers moved from $60,260 in May 2019 to $68,840 in May 2025 (+14.2%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers sits -10.2 pp behind that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers (SOC 53-4022) has a national median of $68,840 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $45,660 to $86,590, and the published mean is $69,030. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 12,400 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 24 state or territory areas and 7 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $65,480 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $68,840 in May 2025, a rise of $3,360 (+5.1%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as slower than average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 1,000 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Transportation and Material Moving Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Washington pays the highest state median at $85,140, which is +24% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $132,190. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
Median Salary
$68,840
per year
Median Hourly
$33.10/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$69,030
average
Employment
12,400
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$68,840 Top 39% higher than 61% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 (this entry) | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$68,840 · 61st percentile of 825 US occupations
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 53-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Read the chart as text
- Laborers and Freight…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.5%, Median annual wage $40240
- Stockers and Order F…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.5%, Median annual wage $37330
- Heavy and Tractor-Tr…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4%, Median annual wage $58640
- Light Truck Drivers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.3%, Median annual wage $44860
- Industrial Truck and…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.1%, Median annual wage $46420
- First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.7%, Median annual wage $62890
- Packers and Packager…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -5.4%, Median annual wage $36280
- Driver/Sales Workers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.8%, Median annual wage $38770
- Bus Drivers, School: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.2%, Median annual wage $47920
- Cleaners of Vehicles…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.9%, Median annual wage $35830
- Shuttle Drivers and …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.7%, Median annual wage $37290
- Bus Drivers, Transit…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.3%, Median annual wage $59050
- Refuse and Recyclabl…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.9%, Median annual wage $49690
- Parking Attendants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3%, Median annual wage $35150
- Flight Attendants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 9.2%, Median annual wage $63580
- Airline Pilots, Copi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.9%, Median annual wage $232140
- Automotive and Water…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1%, Median annual wage $35670
- Commercial Pilots: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.1%, Median annual wage $123220
- Motor Vehicle Operat…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6%, Median annual wage $37180
- Railroad Conductors …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.1%, Median annual wage $78000
- Crane and Tower Oper…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3%, Median annual wage $68080
- Machine Feeders and …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -13%, Median annual wage $41220
- Taxi Drivers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 11.1%, Median annual wage $42100
- Captains, Mates, and…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.5%, Median annual wage $92460
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1%, Median annual wage $68840
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+1%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
1,000
per year (projected)
Employment Change
+100
11,000 (2024) → 11,100 (2034)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Transportation and Material Moving Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
Fatality Rate
17.5/100K
Injury Rate
4.8/100
Danger Index
28/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Operate and drive locomotives, diesel switch engines, dinkey engines, flatcars, and railcars in train yards and at industrial sites.
- ▸ 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.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers pay history, 2019–2025
Published national median across 7 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $60,260 |
| 2020 | $57,870 |
| 2021 | $63,840 |
| 2022 | $67,540 |
| 2023 | $63,540 |
| 2024 | $65,480 |
| 2025 | $68,840 |
2019 median
$60,260
2025 median
$68,840
2019–2025 change
+$8,580 (+14.2%)
Avg/year
+2.2%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2019 | $60,260 | First banked release | 11,080 |
| May 2020 | $57,870 | -4.0% | 14,630 |
| May 2021 | $63,840 | +10.3% | 16,200 |
| May 2022 | $67,540 | +5.8% | 14,210 |
| May 2023 | $63,540 | -5.9% | 13,610 |
| May 2024 | $65,480 | +3.1% | 12,460 |
| May 2025 | $68,840 | +5.1% | 12,400 |
Across the 7 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $60,260 in May 2019 to $68,840 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +2.2% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 11,080 in May 2019 to 12,400 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in.
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 24 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $85,140 | +24% above national |
| 2 | New York | $83,530 | +21% above national |
| 3 | Iowa | $80,910 | +18% above national |
| 4 | Maryland | $79,180 | +15% above national |
| 5 | Illinois | $76,290 | +11% above national |
| 6 | Colorado | $76,140 | +11% above national |
| 7 | Georgia | $75,540 | +10% above national |
| 8 | New Jersey | $74,160 | +8% above national |
| 9 | New Mexico | $72,340 | +5% above national |
| 10 | Texas | $71,580 | +4% above national |
| 11 | Ohio | $67,770 | 2% below national |
| 12 | Missouri | $67,110 | 3% below national |
| 13 | Kansas | $66,990 | 3% below national |
| 14 | Michigan | $66,970 | 3% below national |
| 15 | Indiana | $64,530 | 6% below national |
| 16 | California | $58,770 | 15% below national |
| 17 | Florida | $58,250 | 15% below national |
| 18 | Kentucky | $56,410 | 18% below national |
| 19 | Alabama | $56,050 | 19% below national |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $55,470 | 19% below national |
| 21 | North Carolina | $54,810 | 20% below national |
| 22 | Louisiana | $54,260 | 21% below national |
| 23 | West Virginia | $46,900 | 32% below national |
| 24 | Wyoming | $45,490 | 34% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 5 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $132,190 | +92% above national |
| 2 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $111,050 | +61% above national |
| 3 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $72,180 | +5% above national |
| 4 | Baton Rouge, LA | $53,960 | 22% below national |
| 5 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $47,750 | 31% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 53 (Transportation and Material Moving Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Air Traffic Controllers
SOC 53-2021
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
SOC 53-1041
Aircraft Service Attendants
SOC 53-6032
Airfield Operations Specialists
SOC 53-2022
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
SOC 53-2011
Showing 5 of 49 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Transportation and Material Moving Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($68,840 here) and reported employment (12,400 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers make? ▼
Where does Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers pay rank nationally? ▼
What state pays Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers the most? ▼
What education do Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers need? ▼
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers? ▼
Is Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers a good career? ▼
How does Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $76,590/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Washington leads at $85,140/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.