Locomotive Firers: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Stan T.Career, Overview

Locomotive Firers

Locomotive Firers monitor locomotive instruments and watch for dragging equipment, obstacles on rights-of-way, and train signals during run. Watch for and relay traffic signals from yard workers to yard engineer in railroad yard.

Salary
$55890
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



Job description

Locomotive Firers monitor locomotive instruments and watch for dragging equipment, obstacles on rights-of-way, and train signals during run. Watch for and relay traffic signals from yard workers to yard engineer in railroad yard.

  • Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers.
  • Monitor trains as they go around curves to detect dragging equipment and smoking journal boxes.
  • Receive signals from workers in rear of train and relay that information to engineers.
  • Observe tracks from left sides of locomotives to detect obstructions on tracks.
Read more about what does a Locomotive Firer really do at work and what is it like being and working as one.



Salary

Average salary
$69030 per year

Average hourly wage
$33 per hour


Locomotive Firers with little to no experience tend to make between $53180 and $57570 while the more experienced ones can earn over $82720 per year.

Top 5 paying states Hourly Annual
AL $32 $66,810
0 $- $0
0 $- $0
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One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Locomotive Firer is to move to a higher paying state like AL. Right now, the highest paying states for Locomotive Firers are AL, 0, 0, 0 and 0.

However, a higher pay at AL doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at AL might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Locomotive Firer is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.


Requirements

Recommended degree level
No degree required

We asked other Locomotive Firers what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a High School Diploma followed by a Post-Secondary Certificate.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Railroad and Railway Transportation
Read more about how to become a Locomotive Firer and the degree, training and education you need.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Locomotive Firer.

PROS
Suitable for people who likes practical and hands-on work
Suitable for people who wants to work in a supportive work environment
This career is perfect for people who love to work outdoors.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
CONS
Not suitable for people who likes to work with designs
Demand for this career is declining
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week)

What is the job like

Job satisfaction
61%

Is this job meaningful
47%


61% of Locomotive Firers said they were satisfied with their job and 47% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.


Is this right for me

Best personality for this career
The Builders and The Organizers

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.



Learn more about Locomotive Firers

Summary (You are here)
Job Description
Salary
Requirements
Quiz

Related career information

Locomotive Firers job description, Locomotive Firers salary, Locomotive Firers information, what is the job of a Locomotive Firer like, pros and cons about Locomotive Firers, colleges and universities for Locomotive Firers, is Locomotive Firers the right career for me, careers in Transportation

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