Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary
Salary data across 60 metro areas in the US & CanadaUSD & CAD
Search Jobs on IndeedAvg Median Salary
$64,783
Highest Paying City
San Jose
$95,000
Cities Tracked
60
What Do Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Do?
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers are essential to commerce and travel, operating everything from trucks and buses to ships and aircraft. They follow safety regulations, maintain vehicles, and ensure efficient transportation of people and cargo.
Work settings include vehicles, warehouses, airports, ports, and railyards. Hours are often long and irregular, with many roles requiring overnight travel or shift work. Physical demands vary by position.
Key Skills for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
Education Requirements
High school diploma; commercial driver's license (CDL) or specialized training
Requirements vary by role. Truck drivers need a CDL. Airline pilots require an ATP certificate and extensive flight hours. Railroad engineers need on-the-job training. Material movers typically need a high school diploma and on-the-job training.
Career Outlook
Employment is expected to grow about as fast as average, with particularly strong demand for truck drivers and delivery workers driven by e-commerce growth.
How to Increase Your Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary
- 1.Consider specialized endorsements (hazmat, tanker, doubles/triples)
- 2.Develop logistics and route optimization skills
- 3.Stay current with transportation regulations and safety standards
- 4.Consider owner-operator status for higher earning potential
- 5.Build experience with GPS, ELD, and fleet management technology
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary by City
| City | Median | Average | Range (10th-90th) | Currency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $95,000 | $98,000 | $57,000 - $124,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Francisco, CA | $88,000 | $90,000 | $53,000 - $114,000 | USD | Apply |
| Seattle, WA | $85,000 | $90,000 | $51,000 - $110,000 | USD | Apply |
| New York, NY | $80,000 | $86,000 | $48,000 - $104,000 | USD | Apply |
| Washington DC, DC | $78,000 | $87,000 | $47,000 - $101,000 | USD | Apply |
| Boston, MA | $78,000 | $83,000 | $47,000 - $101,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Diego, CA | $76,000 | $85,000 | $46,000 - $99,000 | USD | Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | $74,000 | $83,000 | $44,000 - $96,000 | USD | Apply |
| Denver, CO | $74,000 | $82,000 | $44,000 - $96,000 | USD | Apply |
| Honolulu, HI | $74,000 | $82,000 | $44,000 - $96,000 | USD | Apply |
| Portland, OR | $73,000 | $78,000 | $44,000 - $95,000 | USD | Apply |
| Anchorage, AK | $73,000 | $75,000 | $44,000 - $95,000 | USD | Apply |
| Baltimore, MD | $71,000 | $75,000 | $43,000 - $92,000 | USD | Apply |
| Dallas, TX | $70,000 | $77,000 | $46,000 - $88,000 | USD | Apply |
| Austin, TX | $70,000 | $76,000 | $46,000 - $88,000 | USD | Apply |
| Sacramento, CA | $70,000 | $75,000 | $46,000 - $88,000 | USD | Apply |
| Philadelphia, PA | $69,000 | $74,000 | $45,000 - $87,000 | USD | Apply |
| Minneapolis, MN | $69,000 | $73,000 | $45,000 - $87,000 | USD | Apply |
| Chicago, IL | $68,000 | $75,000 | $44,000 - $86,000 | USD | Apply |
| Houston, TX | $67,000 | $71,000 | $44,000 - $85,000 | USD | Apply |
| Raleigh, NC | $67,000 | $69,000 | $44,000 - $85,000 | USD | Apply |
| Hartford, CT | $67,000 | $70,000 | $44,000 - $85,000 | USD | Apply |
| Atlanta, GA | $66,000 | $71,000 | $43,000 - $83,000 | USD | Apply |
| Phoenix, AZ | $65,000 | $71,000 | $42,000 - $82,000 | USD | Apply |
| Charlotte, NC | $65,000 | $68,000 | $42,000 - $82,000 | USD | Apply |
| Kansas City, MO | $65,000 | $72,000 | $42,000 - $82,000 | USD | Apply |
| Milwaukee, WI | $64,000 | $69,000 | $42,000 - $81,000 | USD | Apply |
| Miami, FL | $63,000 | $66,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | USD | Apply |
| Detroit, MI | $63,000 | $70,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | USD | Apply |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $63,000 | $66,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | USD | Apply |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $63,000 | $66,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | USD | Apply |
| Richmond, VA | $63,000 | $70,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | USD | Apply |
| Toronto, ON | $63,000 | $70,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Nashville, TN | $62,000 | $68,000 | $40,000 - $78,000 | USD | Apply |
| Indianapolis, IN | $62,000 | $63,000 | $40,000 - $78,000 | USD | Apply |
| Las Vegas, NV | $61,000 | $63,000 | $40,000 - $77,000 | USD | Apply |
| Tampa, FL | $61,000 | $66,000 | $40,000 - $77,000 | USD | Apply |
| Columbus, OH | $61,000 | $68,000 | $40,000 - $77,000 | USD | Apply |
| St. Louis, MO | $61,000 | $62,000 | $40,000 - $77,000 | USD | Apply |
| Jacksonville, FL | $61,000 | $66,000 | $40,000 - $77,000 | USD | Apply |
| Orlando, FL | $60,000 | $61,000 | $39,000 - $76,000 | USD | Apply |
| Cincinnati, OH | $60,000 | $63,000 | $39,000 - $76,000 | USD | Apply |
| Louisville, KY | $60,000 | $67,000 | $39,000 - $76,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Antonio, TX | $59,000 | $62,000 | $38,000 - $74,000 | USD | Apply |
| Cleveland, OH | $59,000 | $65,000 | $38,000 - $74,000 | USD | Apply |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $59,000 | $65,000 | $38,000 - $74,000 | USD | Apply |
| New Orleans, LA | $59,000 | $62,000 | $38,000 - $74,000 | USD | Apply |
| Buffalo, NY | $59,000 | $65,000 | $38,000 - $74,000 | USD | Apply |
| Memphis, TN | $58,000 | $60,000 | $38,000 - $73,000 | USD | Apply |
| Vancouver, BC | $58,000 | $61,000 | $38,000 - $73,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Calgary, AB | $58,000 | $62,000 | $38,000 - $73,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Birmingham, AL | $57,000 | $59,000 | $37,000 - $72,000 | USD | Apply |
| Tucson, AZ | $57,000 | $62,000 | $37,000 - $72,000 | USD | Apply |
| Ottawa, ON | $56,000 | $60,000 | $36,000 - $71,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Edmonton, AB | $55,000 | $57,000 | $36,000 - $69,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Montreal, QC | $51,000 | $54,000 | $33,000 - $64,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Hamilton, ON | $51,000 | $56,000 | $33,000 - $64,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Quebec City, QC | $48,000 | $53,000 | $31,000 - $61,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Halifax, NS | $48,000 | $54,000 | $31,000 - $61,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Winnipeg, MB | $47,000 | $50,000 | $31,000 - $59,000 | CAD | Apply |