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Railroad Brake, Signal, & Switch Operators & Locomotive Firers

What do they do?

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.

Education Required

These occupations usually require a high school diploma.

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What Does This Job Pay?

Median Annual Salary: $63,540

Median Hourly Salary: $31

$44,350

$63,540

$78,120

One out of ten earn less than $44,350

The median salary is $63,540

One out of ten earn more than $78,120

Top Skills For This Job

Basic Skills
Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
Reading work related information
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it
Reading work related information
Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Reading work related information
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Understanding people's reactions
Changing what is done based on other people's actions
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Reading work related information
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Reading work related information
Understanding people's reactions
Looking for ways to help people
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Reading work related information
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work
Repairing machines or systems using the right tools
Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
Talking to others
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
Reading work related information
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it
Reading work related information
Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Reading work related information
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Understanding people's reactions
Changing what is done based on other people's actions
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Reading work related information
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Reading work related information
Understanding people's reactions
Looking for ways to help people
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Reading work related information
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work
Repairing machines or systems using the right tools
Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
Talking to others
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Will There Be Jobs?

New job opportunities are very likely in the future.

Typical Daily Tasks

Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers.
Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.
Pull or push track switches to reroute cars.