33 Series · SOC 33-3052

Transit and Railroad Police Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$90,230
Median / year
$125,910
Top 10% earn
+3%
Growth '23–'33
4,390
US workers

Transit and Railroad Police earn a median of $90,230 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $90,230, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $57,690 (10th percentile) to $125,910 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 4,390 US workers. California pays the most ($109,650), since pay varies by state and metro area.

33 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Transit and Railroad Police earn a median of $90,230, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 78% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Protective Service, it ranks #4 of 24 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2033.

$90,230
Median annual wage
Top 22%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#4 of 24
in Protective Service
2.2×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: California at $109,650. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Transit and Railroad Police (SOC 33-3052) pays a national median of $90,230 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $57,690 at the 10th percentile to $125,910 at the 90th, with a mean of $91,810 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 4,390 Americans work in this occupation across 9 reporting states and 3 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 200 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 7.3 per 100,000 and injury rate of 2.5 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $109,650, which is +22% above the national figure. The top metro is Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD at $103,980 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 4,390 jobs Median $90,230/yr

Median Salary

$90,230

per year

Median Hourly

$43.38/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$91,810

average

Employment

4,390

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Transit and Railroad Police pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$90,230 Top 22% higher than 78% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

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.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 33-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Transit and Railroad Police; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 33-series occupations with growth data, Transit and Railroad Police sits on the slower-growing side at +3% growth and $90,230 median pay.

Among 24 33-series occupations with growth data, Transit and Railroad Police sits on the slower-growing side at +3% growth and $90,230 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $20000$40000$60000$80000$100000$120000 -10%-5%0%5%10%15%20% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 24 33-series occupations with growth data, Transit and Railroad Police sits on the slower-growing side at +3% growth and $90,230 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+3%

Slower than average

Annual Openings

200

per year (projected)

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 →
B

Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

7.3/100K

Injury Rate

2.5/100

Danger Index

13.7/100

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 Transit and Railroad Police roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Active Listening 4.0
Speaking 4.0
Critical Thinking 3.9
Complex Problem Solving 3.8
Monitoring 3.4
Social Perceptiveness 3.4
Writing 3.3
Active Learning 3.3
Coordination 3.3
Judgment and Decision Making 3.3

Knowledge Areas

Public Safety and Security 4.9
Law and Government 4.7
English Language 4.4
Customer and Personal Service 4.1
Transportation 3.7
Education and Training 3.5
Geography 3.5
Psychology 3.5
Computers and Electronics 3.5
Administration and Management 3.5

Key Tasks

  • ▸ Prepare reports documenting investigation activities and results.
  • ▸ Monitor transit areas and conduct security checks to protect railroad properties, patrons, and employees.
  • ▸ Apprehend or remove trespassers or thieves from railroad property or coordinate with law enforcement agencies in apprehensions and removals.
  • ▸ Direct security activities at derailments, fires, floods, or strikes involving railroad property.
  • ▸ Patrol railroad yards, cars, stations, or other facilities to protect company property or shipments and to maintain order.
  • ▸ Investigate or direct investigations of freight theft, suspicious damage or loss of passengers' valuables, or other crimes on railroad property.
  • ▸ Examine credentials of unauthorized persons attempting to enter secured areas.
  • ▸ Enforce traffic laws regarding the transit system and reprimand individuals who violate them.
  • ▸ Provide training to the public or law enforcement personnel in railroad safety or security.
  • ▸ Direct or coordinate the daily activities or training of security staff.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$57,690$68,990$90,230$119,290$125,910
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$27.73$33.17$43.38$57.35$60.53
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$57,690

25th Percentile

$68,990

Median

$90,230

75th Percentile

$119,290

90th Percentile

$125,910

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. California $109,650 2. New Jersey $106,290 3. Maryland $99,420 4. New York $90,460 5. Utah $87,770

Lowest Paying States

5. Georgia $57,690 6. Missouri $67,840 7. Florida $69,810 8. Texas $78,480 9. Utah $87,770
View all 9 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 California $109,650 +22% above national
2 New Jersey $106,290 +18% above national
3 Maryland $99,420 +10% above national
4 New York $90,460 same as national
5 Utah $87,770 3% below national
6 Texas $78,480 13% below national
7 Florida $69,810 23% below national
8 Missouri $67,840 25% below national
9 Georgia $57,690 36% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $103,980 2. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $90,460 3. Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $60,990

Lowest Paying Metros

-1. Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $60,990 0. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $90,460 1. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $103,980
View all 3 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $103,980 +15% above national
2 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $90,460 same as national
3 Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $60,990 32% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 33 (protective service) with comparable pay and career paths.

Animal Control Workers

SOC 33-9011

Bailiffs

SOC 33-3011

Correctional Officers and Jailers

SOC 33-3012

Crossing Guards and Flaggers

SOC 33-9091

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

SOC 33-3021
Compare Transit and Railroad Police side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Transit and Railroad Police make? ▼
The median annual salary for Transit and Railroad Police is $90,230 ($43.38/hour). The salary range spans from $57,690 at the 10th percentile to $125,910 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Transit and Railroad Police the most? ▼
California pays the highest median salary for Transit and Railroad Police at $109,650/year, which is +22% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Transit and Railroad Police? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Transit and Railroad Police is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Transit and Railroad Police? ▼
Transit and Railroad Police has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 7.3 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 2.5 per 100 workers.
Is Transit and Railroad Police a good career? ▼
Employment for Transit and Railroad Police is projected to grow 3% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average. About 200 openings are projected each year.
How does Transit and Railroad Police pay vary by state? ▼
Transit and Railroad Police salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is California at $109,650/year, while Utah pays the least at $87,770/year. BLS data covers 9 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Transit and Railroad Police? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Transit and Railroad Police is Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD at $103,980/year. BLS reports wage data for 3 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Transit and Railroad Police pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $119,290/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $109,650/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.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

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.