Transit and Railroad Police
Transit and Railroad Police (SOC 33-3052) earn a median $90,230 a year ($43.38 an hour) in the United States, with 4,390 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What transit and railroad police do
Transit and railroad police protect and police railroad and transit property, employees and passengers. They patrol railroad yards, cars, stations and other facilities to protect company property or shipments and maintain order, and they monitor transit areas and conduct security checks to protect railroad properties, patrons and employees. They apprehend or remove trespassers or thieves from railroad property, or coordinate with law enforcement agencies in apprehensions and removals. They investigate or direct investigations of freight theft, suspicious damage or loss of passengers' valuables, and other crimes on railroad property. They direct security activities at derailments, fires, floods or strikes involving railroad property, examine the credentials of unauthorized persons trying to enter secured areas, and enforce traffic laws regarding the transit system, reprimanding those who violate them. They prepare reports documenting investigation activities and results. O*NET alternate titles include patrol officer, patrolman, canine officer, police captain and field training agent, which reflect police ranks and assignments. Education is varied: 28 percent of respondents report a bachelor's degree, 26 percent some college courses and 21 percent a high school diploma. The code is separate from police and sheriff's patrol officers, whose duties are general.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a bachelor's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation (28 percent).
Also called: Canine Officer (K-9 Officer), Field Training Advisor, Field Training Agent, Law Enforcement Officer, Officer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $27.73 | $33.17 | $43.38 | $57.35 | $60.53 | $44.14 | 4,390 |
| Annual | $57,690 | $68,990 | $90,230 | $119,290 | $125,910 | $91,810 | ||
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 transit and railroad police 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 | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $37.13 | $45.81 | $52.71 | $52.73 | $52.73 | $48.29 | 100 | 0.01 | 0.19 |
| Annual | $77,230 | $95,280 | $109,650 | $109,680 | $109,680 | $100,450 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $38.36 | $41.49 | $51.10 | $58.57 | $58.57 | $49.49 | 340 | 0.08 | 2.80 |
| Annual | $79,790 | $86,300 | $106,290 | $121,830 | $121,830 | $102,930 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $30.48 | $33.91 | $47.80 | $57.35 | $62.31 | $46.00 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $63,390 | $70,540 | $99,420 | $119,290 | $129,600 | $95,690 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $24.12 | $40.62 | $43.49 | $60.53 | $60.53 | $46.91 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $50,170 | $84,480 | $90,460 | $125,910 | $125,910 | $97,560 | ||||
| Utah | Hourly | $42.20 | $42.20 | $42.20 | $42.20 | $47.39 | $41.27 | 80 | 0.04 | 1.54 |
| Annual | $87,770 | $87,770 | $87,770 | $87,770 | $98,580 | $85,840 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $38.36 | $41.49 | $51.10 | $58.57 | $58.57 | $49.49 | 340 | 0.08 | 2.80 |
| Annual | $79,790 | $86,300 | $106,290 | $121,830 | $121,830 | $102,930 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $25.14 | $27.73 | $27.73 | $34.82 | $34.82 | $31.01 | 240 | 0.05 | 1.76 |
| Annual | $52,280 | $57,690 | $57,690 | $72,420 | $72,420 | $64,510 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $37.13 | $45.81 | $52.71 | $52.73 | $52.73 | $48.29 | 100 | 0.01 | 0.19 |
| Annual | $77,230 | $95,280 | $109,650 | $109,680 | $109,680 | $100,450 | ||||
| Missouri | Hourly | $23.42 | $27.15 | $32.61 | $32.61 | $57.02 | $35.36 | 90 | 0.03 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $48,720 | $56,480 | $67,840 | $67,840 | $118,600 | $73,560 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $25.82 | $29.34 | $37.73 | $53.50 | $53.50 | $41.01 | 80 | 0.01 | 0.19 |
| Annual | $53,710 | $61,030 | $78,480 | $111,280 | $111,280 | $85,310 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $33.19 | $41.49 | $49.99 | $56.21 | $61.83 | $48.80 | 80 | 0.03 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $69,040 | $86,300 | $103,980 | $116,920 | $128,610 | $101,510 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $28.41 | $40.63 | $43.49 | $60.53 | $60.53 | $48.35 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $59,100 | $84,510 | $90,460 | $125,910 | $125,910 | $100,570 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $33.19 | $41.49 | $49.99 | $56.21 | $61.83 | $48.80 | 80 | 0.03 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $69,040 | $86,300 | $103,980 | $116,920 | $128,610 | $101,510 | ||||
Top industries employing transit and railroad police
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) employ 70.2% of transit and railroad police nationally (3,080 jobs) at a median $90,210 a year ($43.37 an hour), followed by State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (16.6%) and Rail Transportation (13.2%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 3,080 | 70.2% | $90,210 | $43.37 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 730 | 16.6% | $96,480 | $46.39 |
| Rail Transportation NAICS 482100 | 580 | 13.2% | $96,270 | $46.29 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (4,390). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $64,930 for transit and railroad police in May 2021 and $90,230 in May 2025, with employment of 3,590 and 4,390.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $64,930 | $31.21 | 3,590 |
| May 2022 | $69,150 | $33.25 | 3,370 |
| May 2023 | $72,250 | $34.73 | 2,360 |
| May 2024 | $82,320 | $39.58 | 3,000 |
| May 2025 | $90,230 | $43.38 | 4,390 |
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
9 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 | California profile | $52.71 | $109,650 | $77,230 | $109,680 | 100 | 0.01 | 0.19 |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | $51.10 | $106,290 | $79,790 | $121,830 | 340 | 0.08 | 2.80 |
| 3 | Maryland profile | $47.80 | $99,420 | $63,390 | $129,600 | ** | ** | ** |
| 4 | New York profile | $43.49 | $90,460 | $50,170 | $125,910 | ** | ** | ** |
| 5 | Utah profile | $42.20 | $87,770 | $87,770 | $98,580 | 80 | 0.04 | 1.54 |
| 6 | Texas profile | $37.73 | $78,480 | $53,710 | $111,280 | 80 | 0.01 | 0.19 |
| 7 | Florida profile | $33.56 | $69,810 | $66,010 | $70,000 | 40 | 0.00 | 0.16 |
| 8 | Missouri profile | $32.61 | $67,840 | $48,720 | $118,600 | 90 | 0.03 | 1.09 |
| 9 | Georgia profile | $27.73 | $57,690 | $52,280 | $72,420 | 240 | 0.05 | 1.76 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (33-3050), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Protective Service 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 33-3052 Transit and Railroad Police.
**- 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 33-3052, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 33-3052.00, 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.