How To Become a Railroad Brake, Signal and Switch Operator

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How Long Does It Take, What Degree Do You Need, and More

Railroad Brake and Switch Operators

Railroad Brake 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.

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

Personality
Interest Match



What degree do you need

Recommended degree level

High School Diploma

We did a survey to ask other Railroad Brake, Signal and Switch Operators what degree they had when they became a Railroad Brake, Signal and Switch Operator. Here are the results.
High School Diploma
87.12%


Less than a High School Diploma
7.29%


a Post-Secondary Certificate
5.59%


One of the most common questions that we always get is what major or degree do I need to become Railroad Brake and Switch Operators or what courses do I need to take.

We also asked Railroad Brake and Switch Operators what did they major in college or university and here are the top 5 most popular majors that came up.

Railroad and Railway Transportation

Some rail companies require a high school diploma or equivalent, especially for locomotive engineers and conductors. Other positions may not have any formal education requirements.



How hard is it

Difficulty
Easy

You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge or experience to be a Railroad Brake, Signal and Switch Operator. For example, a bank teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

Careers in this difficulty category need anywhere from a few months to one year of on-the-job training.


Related work experience required
None

None
69.66%


2 to 4 years
10.17%


6 months to 1 year
7.97%


Job training
3 to 6 months

3 to 6 months
35.06%


1 to 3 months
30.12%


6 months to 1 year
25.45%



License and certifications

Do you need any license or certification
Not required

No license or certification required for Railroad Brake, Signal and Switch Operators


Skills required

We asked other Railroad Brake and Switch Operators if they could only have 5 skills, what would they be. Here is what they said.

1. Active Listening what does this mean
2. Reading Comprehension what does this mean
3. Monitoring what does this mean
4. Operation Monitoring what does this mean
5. Critical Thinking what does this mean

= Hot in-demand that most employers are looking for


Knowledge required

Just like any other job, you will need certain know-hows to excel at your job. Railroad Brake and Switch Operators are generally very knowledgeable in these 5 key areas.

1. Transportation what does this mean
2. Customer and Personal Service what does this mean
3. Public Safety and Security what does this mean
4. Mechanical what does this mean
5. English Language what does this mean


Learn more about Railroad Brake and Switch Operators

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Job Description
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Related to Railroad Brake, Signal and Switch Operators Requirements

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