Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

Transportation, Distribution and LogisticsO*NET 53-4022.00United States

Operate or monitor railroad track switches or locomotive instruments. May couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $68,848
Projected change: +6.6%
Typical education: High school diploma or less
Employment: 14.48K jobs

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

The work

What railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

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.
Observe signals from other crew members so that work activities can be coordinated.
Monitor trains as they go around curves to detect dragging equipment and smoking journal boxes.
Inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly.
Observe tracks from left sides of locomotives to detect obstructions on tracks.
Operate locomotives in emergency situations.
Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains.
Climb ladders to tops of cars to set brakes.
Receive oral or written instructions from yardmasters or yard conductors indicating track assignments and cars to be switched.
Inspect locomotives to detect damaged or worn parts.
Signal other workers to set brakes and to throw track switches when switching cars from trains to way stations.
Check to see that trains are equipped with supplies such as fuel, water, and sand.
Monitor oil, temperature, and pressure gauges on dashboards to determine if engines are operating safely and efficiently.
Set flares, flags, lanterns, or torpedoes in front and at rear of trains during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains.
Inspect tracks, cars, and engines for defects and to determine service needs, sending engines and cars for repairs as necessary.
Start diesel engines to warm engines before runs.
Make minor repairs to couplings, air hoses, and journal boxes, using hand tools.
Connect air hoses to cars, using wrenches.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $45,656
25th percentile: $57,824
50th percentile: $68,848
75th percentile: $76,586
90th percentile: $86,590

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $68,848 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+6.6%faster than average

202514,479 jobs

2035 projected15,440 jobs

961 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less: 65%
Certificate: 20%
Some college: 15%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

Lifting Ability
Hand Tools
Power Tool Operation
Machinery
Mowing
HVAC
Brakes
Electrical Systems
Heavy Equipment
Preventive Maintenance
Welding
Good Driving Record
Railroad Engineering
Hydraulics
Mechanics
Personal Protective Equipment
Rail Operations
Safety Standards
Equipment Repair
Railroad Design

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Workers-In-Charge492 postings
02Engineers258 postings
03Signal Maintainers234 postings
04Mechanics167 postings
05Officers-in-Charge134 postings
06Railroad Engineers123 postings
07Technicians115 postings
08Employee Managers108 postings
09Locomotive Mechanics103 postings
10Maintenance Workers100 postings
11Shop Mechanics89 postings
12Ride Mechanics77 postings
13Railcar Mechanics69 postings
14Powertrain Engineers67 postings
15Track Supervisors62 postings
16Vehicle Maintenance Managers51 postings
17Field Technicians50 postings
18Service Technicians49 postings
19Roadmasters43 postings
20Transload Operators41 postings

Top employers

01National Railroad Safety Services, Inc. (Nrss)723 postings
02Marriott International149 postings
03Cdl Electric136 postings
04Kansas City Southern132 postings
05Road & Rail Services116 postings
06Pape Machinery90 postings
07FedEx87 postings
08Amtrak78 postings
09Tesla77 postings
10American Cruise Lines71 postings
11Railserve60 postings
12Pape Material Handling48 postings
13Stellantis45 postings
14United States Department of Transportation44 postings
15Autobase43 postings
16Union Pacific42 postings
17Watco38 postings
18BNSF Railway37 postings
19Conglobal Company37 postings
20Radius Recycling35 postings

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