Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
Also called Brakeman, Carman, Railroad Switchman, or Terminal Carman
Updated · Source: O*NET 31.0
What Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers do
You move the track switches that send rail cars onto different tracks, and signal the train's driver when it is safe to roll.
Trains get built and taken apart one car at a time, and this is the job that makes that happen. You work in rail yards and along tracks, hooking cars together and unhooking them, pulling or pushing the track switches that steer cars onto a different line, and passing signals to the engineer (the person in the locomotive who actually drives the train) with hand signs, a lantern, or a radio.
You also check the equipment. That means looking over couplings (the heavy hooks that join cars), air hoses, hand brakes, and journal boxes (the housings around the wheel bearings, which can smoke if they overheat). You watch trains as they round curves for anything dragging or loose. Most of it is outdoor, hands-on, safety-first work.
A day in the life
You arrive at the yard, put on your safety gear, and get your assignment from the yardmaster (the person who runs the rail yard and decides which cars go where): which track, which cars, what order. Then you are outside, walking the line of cars, raising levers to uncouple, pulling or pushing the track switches by hand, and running brake tests before anything moves. Much of the shift is spent talking: radio calls, hand signals, repeating a signal's meaning back so the engineer and the rest of the crew are all sure. Weather does not stop the work, so you are in it. Between moves you inspect hoses, brakes, and bearings, and flag anything that needs repair. Trains run on a schedule, so there is steady pressure to get it right the first time.
This could fit you if you…
- ✓Like hands-on work with heavy machinery and moving parts
- ✓Stay calm and careful when a mistake could hurt someone
- ✓Communicate clearly and listen closely to short, precise instructions
- ✓Prefer being outdoors and on your feet over sitting at a desk
- ✓Enjoy keeping things in exact order and on schedule
You might not like it if you…
- –Dislike working in rain, heat, snow, and wind
- –Struggle with deadlines and time pressure while staying precise
- –Feel uneasy around hazardous equipment and strict safety rules
- –Need a fast-growing field, since this career is projected to grow +0.8% through 2035 compared with +3.5% for all jobs
How people get in
- 1Finish high school or earn an equivalent diploma, which is the typical entry-level education for this work.
- 2Build the qualities this job runs on: watching equipment closely, speaking and listening clearly, working as part of a crew, and being comfortable outdoors in all weather.
- 3If you want extra background first, look into a program in Railroad and Railway Transportation, though it is not required.
- 4Apply for entry-level yard or train crew openings; about 900 openings a year are projected across this career overall.
- 5Expect moderate-term on-the-job training after you are hired, usually safety and rules instruction plus time working alongside experienced crew members.
- 6Once you know the yard, look at related steps such as railroad conductor, rail yard engineer, or locomotive engineer.
Who tends to enjoy it
Hands-on
People who like building, fixing, working with tools, machines, plants, or animals.
Organizing
People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.
Curious
People who like figuring things out, research, science, and solving problems.
Official task list
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers 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. (O*NET)
- Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.
- Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers.
- Inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly.
- Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains.
- Pull or push track switches to reroute cars.
- Observe signals from other crew members so that work activities can be coordinated.
- Conduct brake tests to determine the condition of brakes on trains.
- Monitor trains as they go around curves to detect dragging equipment and smoking journal boxes.
A typical day involves
Skills that matter most
- Operations Monitoring
- Monitoring
- Coordination
- Operation and Control
- Active Listening
- Speaking
What you'll need to know
- Transportation
- Public Safety and Security
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
How much Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers make
The median pay for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in the U.S. is $68,840 a year ($33.10 an hour). Most earn between $45,660 and $86,590. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025)
Pay depends a lot on where you live: the median is highest in Washington ($85,140) and lowest in Wyoming ($45,490).
Pay by state and territory
| State | Median pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $56,050 | 240 |
| California | $58,770 | 1,340 |
| Colorado | $76,140 | — |
| Florida | $58,250 | 130 |
| Georgia | $75,540 | 250 |
| Illinois | $76,290 | 1,210 |
| Indiana | $64,530 | 160 |
| Iowa | $80,910 | 220 |
| Kansas | $66,990 | 390 |
| Kentucky | $56,410 | 170 |
| Louisiana | $54,260 | 210 |
| Maryland | $79,180 | 100 |
| Michigan | $66,970 | 190 |
| Missouri | $67,110 | 730 |
| New Jersey | $74,160 | 70 |
| New Mexico | $72,340 | 100 |
| New York | $83,530 | 220 |
| North Carolina | $54,810 | 110 |
| Ohio | $67,770 | 280 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,470 | 350 |
| Texas | $71,580 | 1,650 |
| Washington | $85,140 | 740 |
| West Virginia | $46,900 | 120 |
| Wyoming | $45,490 | 400 |
Where to study for this
College programs that commonly lead to this career, and how many US colleges offer each.
- Railroad and Railway Transportation 4 colleges
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Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 53-4022.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC 53-4022. Outlook and entry education: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.