All About Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators
Position Description 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: What Do They Do?
- Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains.
- Refuel and lubricate engines.
- Watch for and relay traffic signals to start and stop cars during shunting.
- Provide passengers with assistance entering and exiting trains.
- Connect air hoses to cars, using wrenches.
- Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed.
Featured schools near , edit
What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator?
These are the skills Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Trains Service Conductor
- Car Hopper
- Track Helper
- Car Rider
- Railcar Brake Operator
Is There Job Demand 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 average yearly salary of a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator ranges between $34,610 and $85,590.
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 |
What Tools do Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators may use on a daily basis:
- Data entry software
- Route mapping software
- Time tracking software
- Electronic train management systems ETMS
How to Become a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator
Are there Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators education requirements?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator?
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators Sector
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.