# Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/railroad-brake-signal-and-switch-operators-and-locomotive-firers
- SOC code: 53-4022.00
- Career family: Transportation
- Median annual pay: $68,840 (10th percentile $45,660, 90th percentile $86,590)
- Projected growth: Little or no change, +0.8%
- Openings a year: 900
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 18 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 4 |
| Enterprising (E) | 7 |
| Conventional (C) | 54 |

## What you'd do

- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 90/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 85/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 84/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 81/100)
- Getting Information (importance 78/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 78/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 77/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 72/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 70/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 68/100)

## Skills

Operations Monitoring, Monitoring, Coordination, Operation and Control, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness

## Knowledge

Transportation, Public Safety and Security, Administration and Management, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Education and Training, Computers and Electronics, Administrative, Engineering and Technology, Law and Government

## Also called

Air Brake Operator, Air Hose Coupler, Area Brakeman, Brake Holder, Brake Rider, Brakeman, Car Coupler, Car Shifter, Carman, Coupler

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Ground Transportation](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4902) (CIP 4902, 213 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Pennsylvania College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pennsylvania-college-of-technology-2096) | Ground Transportation | $54,938 | $62,389 | $12,000 |

## Related careers

- [Locomotive Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/locomotive-engineers): $81,410 median pay
- [Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/rail-yard-engineers-dinkey-operators-and-hostlers): $60,600 median pay
- [Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/railroad-conductors-and-yardmasters): $78,000 median pay
- [Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/bus-and-truck-mechanics-and-diesel-engine-specialists): $61,770 median pay
- [Hoist and Winch Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hoist-and-winch-operators): $56,450 median pay
- [Signal and Track Switch Repairers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/signal-and-track-switch-repairers): $92,460 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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.