The median annual wage for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in California is $57,720 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $60,770.
Pay spans roughly $50,560 at the 10th percentile to $68,300 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $27.75 per hour. An estimated 1,200 people work as railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers in California.
| Median (annual) | $57,720 |
| Mean (annual) | $60,770 |
| Median (hourly) | $27.75 |
| 10th percentile | $50,560 |
| 90th percentile | $68,300 |
| Employment | 1,200 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.