Railroad Brake, Signal and Switch Operators: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Job description

Railroad Brake, Signal and Switch Operators 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.

• Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.
• Operate and drive locomotives, diesel switch engines, dinkey engines, flatcars, and railcars in train yards and at industrial sites.
• Pull or push track switches to reroute cars.
• Observe signals from other crew members so that work activities can be coordinated.

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Salary

Railroad Brake and Switch Operators with little to no experience tend to make between $34610 and $45170 while the more experienced ones can earn over $72620 per year.

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Railroad Brake, Signal and Switch Operator is to move to a higher paying state like SC. Right now, the highest paying states for Railroad Brake and Switch Operators are SC, NY, MA, MN and WA.

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

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Railroad Brake, Signal and Switch Operator is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.

Requirements

We asked other Railroad Brake and Switch Operators what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a High School Diploma followed by less than a High School Diploma.

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

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Railroad Brake, Signal and Switch Operator.

What is the job like

61% of Railroad Brake and Switch Operators 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

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.

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