An official website of the United States government
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.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers:
Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
---|---|---|---|---|
16,200 | 1.2 % | $ 30.31 | $ 63,050 | 0.5 % |
Percentile wage estimates for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers:
Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hourly Wage | $ 21.28 | $ 29.15 | $ 30.69 | $ 30.98 | $ 38.65 |
Annual Wage (2) | $ 44,260 | $ 60,620 | $ 63,840 | $ 64,440 | $ 80,400 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rail Transportation | 13,940 | 6.34 | $ 30.96 | $ 64,390 |
Support Activities for Rail Transportation | 1,280 | 3.94 | $ 21.01 | $ 43,690 |
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 640 | 0.01 | $ 35.78 | $ 74,430 |
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 90 | 0.00 | $ 41.19 | $ 85,680 |
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | 60 | 0.00 | $ 27.71 | $ 57,630 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rail Transportation | 13,940 | 6.34 | $ 30.96 | $ 64,390 |
Support Activities for Rail Transportation | 1,280 | 3.94 | $ 21.01 | $ 43,690 |
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 640 | 0.01 | $ 35.78 | $ 74,430 |
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | 60 | 0.00 | $ 27.71 | $ 57,630 |
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 90 | 0.00 | $ 41.19 | $ 85,680 |
Top paying industries for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 90 | (7) | $ 41.19 | $ 85,680 |
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 640 | 0.01 | $ 35.78 | $ 74,430 |
Rail Transportation | 13,940 | 6.34 | $ 30.96 | $ 64,390 |
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | 60 | (7) | $ 27.71 | $ 57,630 |
Support Activities for Rail Transportation | 1,280 | 3.94 | $ 21.01 | $ 43,690 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Texas | 2,230 | 0.18 | 1.58 | $ 29.81 | $ 62,000 |
Illinois | 1,550 | 0.28 | 2.40 | $ 32.90 | $ 68,420 |
Missouri | 960 | 0.35 | 3.07 | $ 30.70 | $ 63,860 |
California | 960 | 0.06 | 0.50 | $ 29.96 | $ 62,310 |
Indiana | 800 | 0.27 | 2.34 | $ 37.33 | $ 77,640 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wyoming | 380 | 1.46 | 12.73 | $ 28.67 | $ 59,630 |
Montana | 380 | 0.80 | 6.94 | $ 28.23 | $ 58,710 |
Nebraska | 670 | 0.70 | 6.12 | $ 30.36 | $ 63,140 |
Arkansas | 550 | 0.46 | 4.01 | (8) | (8) |
Missouri | 960 | 0.35 | 3.07 | $ 30.70 | $ 63,860 |
Top paying states for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indiana | 800 | 0.27 | 2.34 | $ 37.33 | $ 77,640 |
Georgia | 400 | 0.09 | 0.80 | $ 36.93 | $ 76,800 |
New York | 550 | 0.06 | 0.55 | $ 34.17 | $ 71,080 |
New Jersey | 130 | 0.03 | 0.30 | $ 33.50 | $ 69,680 |
Illinois | 1,550 | 0.28 | 2.40 | $ 32.90 | $ 68,420 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 460 | 0.11 | 0.94 | $ 33.14 | $ 68,920 |
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 90 | 0.01 | 0.09 | $ 50.27 | $ 104,560 |
Salt Lake City, UT | 60 | 0.09 | 0.75 | $ 29.23 | $ 60,810 |
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 60 | 0.03 | 0.22 | $ 28.04 | $ 58,320 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 460 | 0.11 | 0.94 | $ 33.14 | $ 68,920 |
Salt Lake City, UT | 60 | 0.09 | 0.75 | $ 29.23 | $ 60,810 |
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 60 | 0.03 | 0.22 | $ 28.04 | $ 58,320 |
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 90 | 0.01 | 0.09 | $ 50.27 | $ 104,560 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 90 | 0.01 | 0.09 | $ 50.27 | $ 104,560 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 460 | 0.11 | 0.94 | $ 33.14 | $ 68,920 |
Salt Lake City, UT | 60 | 0.09 | 0.75 | $ 29.23 | $ 60,810 |
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 60 | 0.03 | 0.22 | $ 28.04 | $ 58,320 |
Birmingham-Hoover, AL | (8) | (8) | (8) | $ 18.16 | $ 37,760 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.59 | 5.13 | $ 22.55 | $ 46,900 |
North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.17 | 1.50 | $ 20.96 | $ 43,590 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.59 | 5.13 | $ 22.55 | $ 46,900 |
North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.17 | 1.50 | $ 20.96 | $ 43,590 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $ 24.42 | $ 50,800 |
Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.59 | 5.13 | $ 22.55 | $ 46,900 |
North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.17 | 1.50 | $ 20.96 | $ 43,590 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OEWS estimates and related information:
May 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022