Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 53-4022 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$68,848
$33.10/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers is $68,848 per year ($33.10/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $57,824 and $76,586 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $86,590 per year. There are approximately 12,400 railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Operate or monitor railroad track switches or locomotive instruments. May couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains. Watch for and relay traffic signals. May inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and hand brakes. May watch for dragging equipment or obstacles on rights-of-way.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+1.0%
About as fast as average
Annual openings
1K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
11K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
1% from new growth99% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 4 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Rail Transportation
NAICS 482100
10K
$70,960
Support Activities for Rail Transportation
NAICS 488200
2K
$48,710
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
NAICS 999300
690
$86,590
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
NAICS 999100
50
$67,580
Wage range across top 5 industries: $48,710 to $86,590 (78% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$21.95
$45,656
P25
$27.80
$57,824
P50MEDIAN
$33.10
$68,848
P75
$36.82
$76,586
P90
$41.63
$86,590
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · other sector
Active
Openings Rate
3.4%
Quits Rate
2.0%
The labor market rebounded in March: hires jumped to 5.6M (+655K) and separations rose to 5.4M (+356K), both more than offsetting February's drop. Job openings held at 6.9M. Quits ticked to 2.0%.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers salary?
The national median salary for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers is $68,848 per year ($33.10/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $57,824 and $76,586 annually.
How much do top-earning railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers make?
The 90th percentile salary for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers is $86,590 per year ($41.63/hr). The 75th percentile is $76,586 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers?
Entry-level Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers (10th percentile) earn approximately $45,656 per year ($21.95/hr). The 25th percentile is $57,824 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
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