Average Salary for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
SOC 53-4022 · Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in the United States is $65,480 ($31.48/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $43,750 at the 10th percentile to $80,840 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 12,460 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 8.7% since 2019.
Median Annual
$65,480
Mean Annual
$63,170
10th Pct
$43,750
75th Pct
$70,130
Employment
12,460
Salary Distribution
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $108,350 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $76,860 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $61,360 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $57,390 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $54,230 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $97,690 |
| New Jersey | $79,990 |
| Iowa | $77,150 |
| Nebraska | $70,450 |
| Texas | $69,840 |
| Colorado | $69,040 |
| Maryland | $66,680 |
| Missouri | $65,480 |
| Kansas | $65,370 |
| New Mexico | $65,240 |
| Wisconsin | $65,150 |
| Florida | $64,290 |
| West Virginia | $62,480 |
| Indiana | $61,650 |
| Washington | $61,210 |
| Illinois | $60,130 |
| Mississippi | $59,690 |
| California | $57,720 |
| Kentucky | $56,090 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,990 |
| Alabama | $48,460 |
| Wyoming | $48,420 |
| Ohio | $48,410 |
| North Carolina | $36,290 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $85,040 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $85,040 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $85,040 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $85,040 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $85,040 |
| Rail Transportation | $66,050 |
| Rail Transportation | $66,050 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $65,380 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $65,380 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $65,370 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $65,370 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $62,250 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $62,250 |
| Manufacturing | $50,530 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $49,250 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation | $49,250 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation | $47,800 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land | $47,800 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $65,480 |
| 2023 | $63,540 |
| 2022 | $67,540 |
| 2021 | $63,840 |
| 2020 | $57,870 |
| 2019 | $60,260 |