Transportation & Logistics
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
Also called: Brakeman, Carman, Fireman, Locomotive Switch Operator
US median pay
$68,840
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+0.8%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
900
10,700 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Receive oral or written instructions from yardmasters or yard conductors indicating track assignments and cars to be switched.
- Inspect tracks, cars, and engines for defects and to determine service needs, sending engines and cars for repairs as necessary.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operations Monitoring3.5/5
- Coordination3.2/5
- Operation and Control3.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.9/5
- Time Management2.8/5
- Quality Control Analysis2.6/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.6/5
Knowledge
- Transportation4.3/5
- Public Safety and Security4.0/5
- English Language3.6/5
- Administration and Management3.6/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.0/5
- Education and Training2.8/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.