Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary Trend (2011–2024)
Historical salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Median Salary in 2024
$65,480
↑ 8.7% since 2019
Median Salary Over Time
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers — Median Annual Salary
Employment Over Time
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers — Total Employment
Key Insights
📈Salaries grew 8.7% since 2019 ($60,260 → $65,480)
🏆Peak year: 2022 at $67,540
🦠COVID impact: Salary dropped 4.0% from 2019 to 2020 during the pandemic downturn.
💰After inflation (~3%/yr), real growth is approximately -6%
Year-by-Year Salary Data
| Year | Median Salary | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $65,480 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $63,540 | -5.9% |
| 2022 | $67,540 | +5.8% |
| 2021 | $63,840 | +10.3% |
| 2020 | $57,870 | -4.0% |
| 2019 | $60,260 | — |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2011–2024. All figures are annual median wages in nominal dollars.