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Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$65,480	1100	1.5%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$65,480

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

1100

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

1.5%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

Operate or monitor railroad track switches or locomotive instruments. May couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains. Watch for and relay traffic signals. May inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and hand brakes. May watch for dragging equipment or obstacles on rights-of-way.

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.

Detailed Work Activities

Monitor traffic signals.
Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Control equipment that regulates vehicle traffic.
Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Observe equipment in operation to detect potential problems.
Inspect locomotives or other railroad equipment.
Monitor surroundings to detect potential hazards.
Operate locomotives or other rail vehicles.
Install parts, assemblies, or attachments in transportation or material handling equipment.
Climb ladders or vehicles to perform duties.
Receive information or instructions for performing work assignments.
Inspect locomotives or other railroad equipment.
Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Monitor availability of equipment or supplies.
Monitor engine operation or functioning.
Monitor equipment gauges or displays to ensure proper operation.
Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Inspect locomotives or other railroad equipment.
Arrange maintenance activities.
Operate locomotives or other rail vehicles.
Maintain locomotives or other rail equipment in good working condition.
Connect hoses to equipment or machinery.
Operate locomotives or other rail vehicles.
Maintain locomotives or other rail equipment in good working condition.
Operate locomotives or other rail vehicles.
Record operational or production data.
Record service or repair activities.
Assist passengers during vehicle boarding.
Test mechanical systems to ensure proper functioning.

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 train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers.
Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.
Pull or push track switches to reroute cars.
Observe signals from other crew members so that work activities can be coordinated.
Monitor trains as they go around curves to detect dragging equipment and smoking journal boxes.
Inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly.
Observe tracks from left sides of locomotives to detect obstructions on tracks.
Operate locomotives in emergency situations.
Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains.
Climb ladders to tops of cars to set brakes.
Receive oral or written instructions from yardmasters or yard conductors indicating track assignments and cars to be switched.
Inspect locomotives to detect damaged or worn parts.
Signal other workers to set brakes and to throw track switches when switching cars from trains to way stations.
Check to see that trains are equipped with supplies such as fuel, water, and sand.
Monitor oil, temperature, and pressure gauges on dashboards to determine if engines are operating safely and efficiently.
Set flares, flags, lanterns, or torpedoes in front and at rear of trains during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains.
Inspect tracks, cars, and engines for defects and to determine service needs, sending engines and cars for repairs as necessary.
Start diesel engines to warm engines before runs.
Make minor repairs to couplings, air hoses, and journal boxes, using hand tools.
Connect air hoses to cars, using wrenches.
Operate and drive locomotives, diesel switch engines, dinkey engines, flatcars, and railcars in train yards and at industrial sites.
Refuel and lubricate engines.
Ride atop cars that have been shunted, and turn handwheels to control speeds or stop cars at specified positions.
Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed.
Provide passengers with assistance entering and exiting trains.
Conduct brake tests to determine the condition of brakes on trains.

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.

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