Transportation and material moving
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.
Median pay
$68,840
Growth to 2035
+1%
little or no change
Openings a year
900
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers: 55% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.
- Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers.
- Inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly.
- Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains.
- Pull or push track switches to reroute cars.
- Observe signals from other crew members so that work activities can be coordinated.
- Conduct brake tests to determine the condition of brakes on trains.
- Monitor trains as they go around curves to detect dragging equipment and smoking journal boxes.
Also called: Brakeman · Carman · Fireman · Locomotive Switch Operator · Railroad Brakeman · Railroad Switchman · Switch Operator · Switchman
Outlook and AI
Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers held 10,700 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 10,800 by 2035 (+1%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
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