Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers (SOC 53-4022) earn a median $68,840 a year ($33.10 an hour) in the United States, with 12,400 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Washington.
What railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers do
Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators work on the ground and on the train to make up and break up trains and keep them moving safely. Their tasks include operating track switches to send cars onto the right track, coupling and uncoupling cars, watching signals and passing the information to the engineer, and walking or riding along the train to look for trouble. They give the engineer start and stop signals by hand, lantern, or radio during switching moves, and they inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and hand brakes to verify they are secured and working. While the train takes curves they look for dragging equipment, smoking journal boxes, or objects on the right-of-way. The code also includes locomotive firers, and alternate titles such as brakeman, car coupler, and car rider show the range of jobs. They watch the tracks from the left side of the locomotive for obstructions and can be called on to operate the locomotive in an emergency.
Also called: Air Brake Operator, Air Hose Coupler, Area Brakeman, Brake Holder, Brake Rider.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $21.95 | $27.80 | $33.10 | $36.82 | $41.63 | $33.19 | 12,400 |
| Annual | $45,660 | $57,820 | $68,840 | $76,590 | $86,590 | $69,030 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | $29.98 | $40.14 | $40.93 | $40.93 | $40.93 | $39.21 | 740 | 0.21 | 2.61 |
| Annual | $62,360 | $83,480 | $85,140 | $85,140 | $85,140 | $81,560 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $22.87 | $30.63 | $40.16 | $40.16 | $66.29 | $40.50 | 220 | 0.02 | 0.29 |
| Annual | $47,570 | $63,700 | $83,530 | $83,530 | $137,890 | $84,240 | ||||
| Iowa | Hourly | $24.36 | $27.54 | $38.90 | $39.54 | $39.54 | $35.66 | 220 | 0.14 | 1.74 |
| Annual | $50,660 | $57,290 | $80,910 | $82,240 | $82,240 | $74,180 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $24.00 | $24.00 | $38.07 | $40.80 | $50.13 | $35.29 | 100 | 0.04 | 0.44 |
| Annual | $49,920 | $49,920 | $79,180 | $84,860 | $104,260 | $73,400 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $23.27 | $23.62 | $36.68 | $41.63 | $47.80 | $35.63 | 1,210 | 0.20 | 2.48 |
| Annual | $48,410 | $49,140 | $76,290 | $86,590 | $99,430 | $74,110 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $19.03 | $22.50 | $34.41 | $34.55 | $34.55 | $29.47 | 1,650 | 0.12 | 1.47 |
| Annual | $39,570 | $46,810 | $71,580 | $71,860 | $71,860 | $61,300 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $24.75 | $28.20 | $28.25 | $33.66 | $33.66 | $29.58 | 1,340 | 0.07 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $51,480 | $58,650 | $58,770 | $70,000 | $70,000 | $61,530 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $23.27 | $23.62 | $36.68 | $41.63 | $47.80 | $35.63 | 1,210 | 0.20 | 2.48 |
| Annual | $48,410 | $49,140 | $76,290 | $86,590 | $99,430 | $74,110 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $29.98 | $40.14 | $40.93 | $40.93 | $40.93 | $39.21 | 740 | 0.21 | 2.61 |
| Annual | $62,360 | $83,480 | $85,140 | $85,140 | $85,140 | $81,560 | ||||
| Missouri | Hourly | $32.24 | $32.26 | $32.26 | $32.35 | $32.35 | $32.04 | 730 | 0.25 | 3.12 |
| Annual | $67,050 | $67,110 | $67,110 | $67,290 | $67,290 | $66,640 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $31.00 | $51.12 | $63.56 | $63.56 | $70.84 | $57.14 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.24 |
| Annual | $64,480 | $106,340 | $132,190 | $132,190 | $147,350 | $118,860 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $30.63 | $36.94 | $53.39 | $66.29 | $66.29 | $51.43 | 60 | 0.01 | 0.08 |
| Annual | $63,710 | $76,840 | $111,050 | $137,890 | $137,890 | $106,980 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $23.27 | $23.27 | $34.70 | $41.63 | $41.63 | $34.03 | 560 | 0.12 | 1.55 |
| Annual | $48,410 | $48,410 | $72,180 | $86,590 | $86,590 | $70,790 | ||||
| Baton Rouge, LA | Hourly | $21.10 | $21.30 | $25.94 | $26.28 | $33.78 | $25.56 | 50 | 0.12 | 1.45 |
| Annual | $43,880 | $44,310 | $53,960 | $54,670 | $70,270 | $53,170 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $19.26 | $22.46 | $22.96 | $27.80 | $30.47 | $24.94 | 270 | 0.08 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $40,060 | $46,720 | $47,750 | $57,820 | $63,370 | $51,870 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $23.27 | $23.27 | $34.70 | $41.63 | $41.63 | $34.03 | 560 | 0.12 | 1.55 |
| Annual | $48,410 | $48,410 | $72,180 | $86,590 | $86,590 | $70,790 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $19.26 | $22.46 | $22.96 | $27.80 | $30.47 | $24.94 | 270 | 0.08 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $40,060 | $46,720 | $47,750 | $57,820 | $63,370 | $51,870 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $30.63 | $36.94 | $53.39 | $66.29 | $66.29 | $51.43 | 60 | 0.01 | 0.08 |
| Annual | $63,710 | $76,840 | $111,050 | $137,890 | $137,890 | $106,980 | ||||
| Baton Rouge, LA | Hourly | $21.10 | $21.30 | $25.94 | $26.28 | $33.78 | $25.56 | 50 | 0.12 | 1.45 |
| Annual | $43,880 | $44,310 | $53,960 | $54,670 | $70,270 | $53,170 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $31.00 | $51.12 | $63.56 | $63.56 | $70.84 | $57.14 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.24 |
| Annual | $64,480 | $106,340 | $132,190 | $132,190 | $147,350 | $118,860 | ||||
Top industries employing railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers
Rail Transportation employ 77.6% of railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers nationally (9,620 jobs) at a median $70,960 a year ($34.11 an hour), followed by Support Activities for Rail Transportation (15.0%) and Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (5.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rail Transportation NAICS 482100 | 9,620 | 77.6% | $70,960 | $34.11 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation NAICS 488200 | 1,860 | 15.0% | $48,710 | $23.42 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 690 | 5.6% | $86,590 | $41.63 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 50 | 0.4% | $67,580 | $32.49 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (12,400). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $63,840 for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers in May 2021 and $68,840 in May 2025, with employment of 16,200 and 12,400.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $63,840 | $30.69 | 16,200 |
| May 2022 | $67,540 | $32.47 | 14,210 |
| May 2023 | $63,540 | $30.55 | 13,610 |
| May 2024 | $65,480 | $31.48 | 12,460 |
| May 2025 | $68,840 | $33.10 | 12,400 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
24 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington profile | $40.93 | $85,140 | $62,360 | $85,140 | 740 | 0.21 | 2.61 |
| 2 | New York profile | $40.16 | $83,530 | $47,570 | $137,890 | 220 | 0.02 | 0.29 |
| 3 | Iowa profile | $38.90 | $80,910 | $50,660 | $82,240 | 220 | 0.14 | 1.74 |
| 4 | Maryland profile | $38.07 | $79,180 | $49,920 | $104,260 | 100 | 0.04 | 0.44 |
| 5 | Illinois profile | $36.68 | $76,290 | $48,410 | $99,430 | 1,210 | 0.20 | 2.48 |
| 6 | Colorado profile | $36.60 | $76,140 | $48,150 | $97,940 | ** | ** | ** |
| 7 | Georgia profile | $36.32 | $75,540 | $52,940 | $109,270 | 250 | 0.05 | 0.63 |
| 8 | New Jersey profile | $35.65 | $74,160 | $52,850 | $81,440 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.19 |
| 9 | New Mexico profile | $34.78 | $72,340 | $50,070 | $76,590 | 100 | 0.12 | 1.47 |
| 10 | Texas profile | $34.41 | $71,580 | $39,570 | $71,860 | 1,650 | 0.12 | 1.47 |
| 11 | Ohio profile | $32.58 | $67,770 | $49,600 | $70,430 | 280 | 0.05 | 0.64 |
| 12 | Missouri profile | $32.26 | $67,110 | $67,050 | $67,290 | 730 | 0.25 | 3.12 |
| 13 | Kansas profile | $32.21 | $66,990 | $62,400 | $72,800 | 390 | 0.27 | 3.44 |
| 14 | Michigan profile | $32.20 | $66,970 | $40,890 | $117,650 | 190 | 0.04 | 0.53 |
| 15 | Indiana profile | $31.02 | $64,530 | $60,200 | $77,760 | 160 | 0.05 | 0.64 |
| 16 | California profile | $28.25 | $58,770 | $51,480 | $70,000 | 1,340 | 0.07 | 0.92 |
| 17 | Florida profile | $28.00 | $58,250 | $43,180 | $95,380 | 130 | 0.01 | 0.17 |
| 18 | Kentucky profile | $27.12 | $56,410 | $56,240 | $63,000 | 170 | 0.09 | 1.08 |
| 19 | Alabama profile | $26.95 | $56,050 | $44,050 | $104,250 | 240 | 0.11 | 1.41 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania profile | $26.67 | $55,470 | $33,950 | $73,530 | 350 | 0.06 | 0.72 |
| 21 | North Carolina profile | $26.35 | $54,810 | $36,780 | $87,560 | 110 | 0.02 | 0.29 |
| 22 | Louisiana profile | $26.09 | $54,260 | $39,840 | $63,250 | 210 | 0.11 | 1.37 |
| 23 | West Virginia profile | $22.55 | $46,900 | $40,010 | $79,020 | 120 | 0.18 | 2.21 |
| 24 | Wyoming profile | $21.87 | $45,490 | $40,090 | $70,070 | 400 | 1.42 | 17.78 |
Part of Transportation and Material Moving Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 53-4022 Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 53-4022, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 53-4022.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.