Life As a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator Example Operate railroad track switches. Couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains. Signal engineers by hand or flagging. May inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and hand brakes.
Life As a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator
- Set flares, flags, lanterns, or torpedoes in front and at rear of trains during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains.
- Pull or push track switches to reroute cars.
- Adjust controls to regulate air-conditioning, heating, and lighting on trains for comfort of passengers.
- Inspect tracks, cars, and engines for defects and to determine service needs, sending engines and cars for repairs as necessary.
- Make minor repairs to couplings, air hoses, and journal boxes, using hand tools.
- Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains.
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Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator Skills
When polled, Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Types of Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator Jobs
- Trains Service Conductor
- Railroad Signal Operator
- Engineer
- Freight Brake Operator
- Nipper
Job Opportunities for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators
In the United States, there were 19,300 jobs for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator. There will be an estimated 1,700 positions for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator per year.
The states with the most job growth for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator are Nebraska, Texas, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Louisiana, Tennessee, or Wisconsin. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator Salary
The salary for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators ranges between about $34,610 and $85,590 a year.
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators who work in South Carolina, Massachusetts, or Minnesota, make the highest salaries.
How much do Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $48,250 |
| Arkansas | $45,000 |
| Florida | $39,450 |
| Georgia | $54,570 |
| Illinois | $63,030 |
| Indiana | $51,600 |
| Iowa | $49,980 |
| Kansas | $63,980 |
| Kentucky | $49,850 |
| Louisiana | $54,650 |
| Maryland | $60,100 |
| Massachusetts | $70,560 |
| Michigan | $60,940 |
| Minnesota | $67,900 |
| Missouri | $63,610 |
| Montana | $56,520 |
| Nebraska | $61,200 |
| New Jersey | $57,610 |
| New York | $72,170 |
| North Carolina | $57,250 |
| Ohio | $58,440 |
| Oklahoma | $61,580 |
| Oregon | $65,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,080 |
| South Carolina | $72,930 |
| Texas | $57,890 |
| Utah | $49,270 |
| Virginia | $46,540 |
| Washington | $66,160 |
| West Virginia | $49,550 |
| Wisconsin | $65,780 |
| Wyoming | $58,390 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators:
- Data entry software
- Route mapping software
- Time tracking software
- Electronic train management systems ETMS
Becoming a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator
Education needed to be a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where do Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators Work?
Below are examples of industries where Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators work:
Related Careers
Those interested in being a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
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