Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers is $68,840, or $33.10 per hour. About 12,400 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $85,140 in Washington to $45,490 in Wyoming.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 24 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $85,140 | $40.93 | 740 | 2.61 |
| 2 | New York | $83,530 | $40.16 | 220 | 0.29 |
| 3 | Iowa | $80,910 | $38.90 | 220 | 1.74 |
| 4 | Maryland | $79,180 | $38.07 | 100 | 0.44 |
| 5 | Illinois | $76,290 | $36.68 | 1,210 | 2.48 |
| 6 | Colorado | $76,140 | $36.60 | — | — |
| 7 | Georgia | $75,540 | $36.32 | 250 | 0.63 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $74,160 | $35.65 | 70 | 0.19 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $72,340 | $34.78 | 100 | 1.47 |
| 10 | Texas | $71,580 | $34.41 | 1,650 | 1.47 |
| 11 | Ohio | $67,770 | $32.58 | 280 | 0.64 |
| 12 | Missouri | $67,110 | $32.26 | 730 | 3.12 |
| 13 | Kansas | $66,990 | $32.21 | 390 | 3.44 |
| 14 | Michigan | $66,970 | $32.20 | 190 | 0.53 |
| 15 | Indiana | $64,530 | $31.02 | 160 | 0.64 |
| 16 | California | $58,770 | $28.25 | 1,340 | 0.92 |
| 17 | Florida | $58,250 | $28.00 | 130 | 0.17 |
| 18 | Kentucky | $56,410 | $27.12 | 170 | 1.08 |
| 19 | Alabama | $56,050 | $26.95 | 240 | 1.41 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $55,470 | $26.67 | 350 | 0.72 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $54,810 | $26.35 | 110 | 0.29 |
| 22 | Louisiana | $54,260 | $26.09 | 210 | 1.37 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $46,900 | $22.55 | 120 | 2.21 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $45,490 | $21.87 | 400 | 17.78 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers make?
The median annual wage for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers in the United States is $68,840, or $33.10 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $45,660, and the top 10% earn $86,590.
How many railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers are employed in the U.S.?
About 12,400 people work as railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers nationwide.
Which state pays railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers the most?
Washington pays the most at a median of $85,140, followed by New York ($83,530) and Iowa ($80,910).
Which state pays railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers the least?
Wyoming has the lowest median at $45,490.
Where are railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Wyoming at 17.78×.