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| Median Wage (USD, 2024) | Projected Job Openings (2023-2033) | Projected Growth (2023-2033) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Statistics | $58,030 | 200 | 0.5% |
| State Statistics | - | - | - |
| City Statistics | - | - | - |
Experience Requirements Overview
- Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
- Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
- These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
- Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Education, Training and Experience
Required Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Related Work Experience: N.A.
On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Detailed Work Activities
- Communicate with others to coordinate vehicle movement.
- Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
- Monitor traffic signals.
- Operate locomotives or other rail vehicles.
- Inspect locomotives or other railroad equipment.
Work Values
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Working Conditions
Recognition
Relationships
Support
Independence
Tasks
- Observe and respond to wayside and cab signals, including color light signals, position signals, torpedoes, flags, and hot box detectors.
- Inspect engines before and after use to ensure proper operation.
- Apply and release hand brakes.
- Signal crew members for movement of engines or trains, using lanterns, hand signals, radios, or telephones.
- Confer with conductors and other workers via radiotelephones or computers to exchange switching information.
- Inspect track for defects such as broken rails and switch malfunctions.
- Observe water levels and oil, air, and steam pressure gauges to ensure proper operation of equipment.
- Couple and uncouple air hoses and electrical connections between cars.
- Drive engines within railroad yards or other establishments to couple, uncouple, or switch railroad cars.
- Inspect the condition of stationary trains, rolling stock, and equipment.
- Read switching instructions and daily car schedules to determine work to be performed, or receive orders from yard conductors.
- Receive, relay, and act upon instructions and inquiries from train operations and customer service center personnel.
- Spot cars for loading and unloading at customer locations.
- Operate track switches, derails, automatic switches, and retarders to change routing of train or cars.
- Report arrival and departure times, train delays, work order completion, and time on duty.
- Perform routine repair and maintenance duties.
- Drive locomotives to and from various stations in roundhouses to have locomotives cleaned, serviced, repaired, or supplied.
- Pull knuckles to open them for coupling.
- Provide assistance in aligning drawbars, using available equipment to lift, pull, or push on the drawbars.
- Ride on moving cars by holding onto grab irons and standing on ladder steps.
- Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed.
- Operate flatcars equipped with derricks or railcars to transport personnel or equipment.
- Provide assistance in the installation or repair of rails and ties.
Work Styles
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Persistence
Initiative
Leadership
Cooperation
Concern for Others
Social Orientation
Self-Control
Stress Tolerance
Adaptability/Flexibility
Dependability
Attention to Detail
Integrity
Independence
Innovation
Analytical Thinking
Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.