Average Salary for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators
SOC 53-4021 · Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · 2018 data
The median annual wage for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators in the United States is $57,260 ($27.53/hr), based on 2018 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $34,610 at the 10th percentile to $85,590 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 14,270 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 9.4% since 2014.
Median Annual
$57,260
Mean Annual
$58,890
10th Pct
$34,610
75th Pct
$72,620
Employment
14,270
Salary Distribution
$35k
10th
$45k
25th
$57k
Median
$73k
75th
$86k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $63,440 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $62,320 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $49,180 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $41,390 |
| Montgomery, AL | $32,800 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| South Carolina | $73,930 |
| Massachusetts | $73,590 |
| Minnesota | $71,980 |
| Wisconsin | $64,620 |
| New York | $63,690 |
| Oregon | $63,390 |
| Washington | $63,010 |
| Illinois | $62,400 |
| Kansas | $62,370 |
| Missouri | $61,270 |
| Michigan | $60,760 |
| North Carolina | $59,420 |
| Maryland | $58,970 |
| New Jersey | $57,560 |
| Nebraska | $57,310 |
| Oklahoma | $56,940 |
| Wyoming | $56,810 |
| Ohio | $55,840 |
| Texas | $53,850 |
| Montana | $53,120 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,900 |
| West Virginia | $51,300 |
| Louisiana | $50,680 |
| Iowa | $50,630 |
| Indiana | $50,270 |
| Georgia | $50,060 |
| Utah | $49,820 |
| Virginia | $45,580 |
| Arkansas | $43,130 |
| Alabama | $40,050 |
| Kentucky | $38,920 |
| Florida | $36,270 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators broken down by industry sector, 2018 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | $79,220 |
| Local government, including schools and hospitals | $70,040 |
| Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | $70,040 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding state and local schools and hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OES Designation) | $69,910 |
| Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospitals, and the US Postal Service | $69,910 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding state and local schools and hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OES Designation) | $69,910 |
| Rail Transportation | $58,920 |
| Rail Transportation | $58,920 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $58,620 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $56,830 |
| Cross-industry, private ownership only | $56,730 |
| Manufacturing | $54,320 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | $52,030 |
| Wholesale Trade | $48,490 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $46,910 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $46,910 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | $43,920 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation | $43,860 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $43,850 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | $43,370 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2018 | $57,260 |
| 2017 | $57,260 |
| 2016 | $56,570 |
| 2015 | $54,020 |
| 2014 | $52,360 |