Transportation
Locomotive Engineers
- Median pay
- $81,410
- Outlook
- Little or no change
High school diploma
- Operation and Control
- Operations Monitoring
- Monitoring
SOC 53-4022.00
Operate or monitor railroad track switches or locomotive instruments.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
Annual pay range
12,400 people work in this occupation.
In short
Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers manage track switches, monitor train instruments, and couple railcars. The median annual pay for this career is $68,840.
Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.
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.
Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.
Workers in this field perform physical tasks to keep trains moving safely. Day-to-day activities include operating track switches, coupling or uncoupling rolling stock, and inspecting equipment like air hoses, journal boxes, and hand brakes. They watch for track obstacles, relay traffic signals, and monitor locomotive instruments. This role requires strong skills in operations monitoring, coordination, and active listening to communicate effectively with supervisors and peers.
Because this is a realistic interest area, the work is highly hands-on. Operators must make quick decisions and solve problems while inspecting materials and handling objects. Key knowledge areas include transportation systems, public safety, and security. To succeed, workers must show dependability, cautiousness, and high attention to detail. Staying calm under pressure and cooperating with other crew members are essential work styles for maintaining safety on the tracks.
Entering this career typically requires a high school diploma. According to O*NET, this occupation is classified as Job Zone 2, meaning it requires some preparation. Most workers enter the field with a high school education and then complete on-the-job training or gain practical experience on the railroad.
For those looking at related college majors, programs in ground transportation provide relevant background knowledge. This training helps candidates understand transportation systems, basic engineering, and safety regulations. No specific licenses, certifications, or professional associations are listed as requirements to enter this line of work.
The median annual pay for these operators is $68,840. Earnings range from less than $45,660 for the lowest 10% of workers to more than $86,590 for the highest 10% of earners.
There are currently 12,400 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 0.8%, which represents little or no change. Despite this flat growth, about 900 job openings are expected each year to replace workers who leave the field.
Interest code RCI. Compare it with yours
Air Brake Operator · Air Hose Coupler · Area Brakeman · Brake Holder · Brake Rider · Brakeman · Car Coupler · Car Shifter · Carman · Coupler
Career pathway
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College Scorecard program outcomes
Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.
Williamsport, PA · Ground Transportation · Associate
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.
NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk
Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.
213 colleges offer it
CareerOneStop
What railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.
Programs of study that prepare people for this work.
Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.
Your plan
Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.
Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.
People in this occupation are also called brakemen, car couplers, air brake operators, car shifters, and area brakemen.
Workers must inspect couplings, hand brakes, and air hoses while watching for dragging equipment or obstacles on the rights-of-way. They also monitor traffic signals and apply public safety and security knowledge to prevent accidents.
Related careers include locomotive engineers, rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, hostlers, railroad conductors, yardmasters, and signal and track switch repairers.
Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.
Version 31.0
Version 2025-35 · Data year 2025
Version 2025 · Data year 2025
Version 2020 · Data year 2020
O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.
Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.
Page data updated November 5, 2026.