Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary in California
Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers in California earned a median of $58,770 a year ($28.25 an hour) and a mean of $61,530 in May 2025. The median is 14.6% below the U.S. median of $68,840, ranking 16th of 24 states, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $58,770
- Median hourly
- $28.25
- Mean annual
- $61,530
- Jobs on record
- 1,340
Grey needle: U.S. median, $68,840 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does California compare on pay for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers?
California ranks 16th of 24 states. Washington is highest at $85,140, $26,370 more than the California median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 14 | $66,970 | -3% | 190 |
| Indiana | 15 | $64,530 | -6% | 160 |
| California | 16 | $58,770 | -15% | 1,340 |
| Florida | 17 | $58,250 | -15% | 130 |
| Kentucky | 18 | $56,410 | -18% | 170 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 24 states with a published figure. See every state.
Does California pay go further after prices?
Prices in California run 10.7% above the U.S. average, so the $58,770 median buys about what $53,080 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $68,840 U.S. median. On this measure California ranks 22nd of 24, down from 16th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
How many railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers work in California?
BLS counts 1,340 jobs in California, 10.8% of the 12,400 in the U.S. That is the 2nd largest count among the 23 states with a published figure. That is 0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in California, a location quotient of 0.92: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.92 times its national share, so it is less concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the California minimum wage compare with pay for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers in California was $24.75 in May 2025, $7.85 above the $16.90 minimum wage that applies there now. The pay figure dates from May 2025 and the minimum wage is the current rate, so the two are not from the same date.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05; BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, 10th-percentile hourly wage.
Related jobs in California
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.