Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
SOC Code: 53-4022
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firerss observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers. This career typically requires moderate-term on-the-job training (months to 1 year). With an AI-proof score of 84.7/100, this role has high resilience to automation. Key skills include Monitoring, Operations Monitoring, Operations Monitoring.
AI-Proof Score: 84.7 — Very High
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Median Salary
$65,480
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Job Growth
1.0%
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Training Time
Moderate-term on-the-job training (months to 1 year)
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Job Zone
Zone 2 / 5
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Training Cost
~$5,000
Key Skills
- •Monitoring
- •Operations Monitoring
- •Critical Thinking
- •Active Listening
- •Operation and Control
- •Coordination
- •Reading Comprehension
Common 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.
Training & Resources
Why AI-Proof?
- ✅Requires hands-on physical presence and dexterity
- ✅Demands human empathy, judgment, and trust
- ✅Operates in unpredictable, variable environments
- ✅Social and regulatory barriers to full automation