Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers · Washington

Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary in Washington

Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Washington earn a median annual wage of $85,140 —23.7% above the national median of $68,840. That ranks WA #1 of 24 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$85,140
Median hourly
$40.93
Entry level (P10)
$62,360
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$85,140
90th percentile
Employment
740
0.2 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+23.7%
U.S. $68,840

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$62,360
$83,480
$85,140
$85,140
$62,360$85,140$85,140
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $85,140.

Employment is 2.61× as concentrated as the national average, making Washington a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers

All 24 states ranked by median annual wage. Washington is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Washington$85,140$40.937402.61
2New York$83,530$40.162200.29
3Iowa$80,910$38.902201.74
4Maryland$79,180$38.071000.44
5Illinois$76,290$36.681,2102.48
6Colorado$76,140$36.60——
7Georgia$75,540$36.322500.63
8New Jersey$74,160$35.65700.19
9New Mexico$72,340$34.781001.47
10Texas$71,580$34.411,6501.47

Related occupations in Washington

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Washington.

Frequently asked questions

How much do railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers make in Washington?

The median annual wage for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers in Washington is $85,140, or $40.93 per hour. That is 23.7% above the national median of $68,840.

What is the entry-level railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers salary in Washington?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $62,360 per year ($29.98/hour). The 25th percentile is $83,480.

How many people work as railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers in Washington?

About 740 people work in this occupation in Washington, or 0.2 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Washington a good state for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers?

Washington ranks #1 of 24 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 2.61x as concentrated as the national average, making Washington a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers the most?

Washington has the highest median wage at $85,140 per year, followed by New York ($83,530) and Iowa ($80,910).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes