Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand: Who Earns More?
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firerss out-earn Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands by $29K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firerss land at $68,840 and Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands at $40,240. The education gap is real: railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firer programs typically require no formal educational credential, while laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firerss is Washington ($85,140); for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands it's Minnesota ($46,280).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firerss or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands?
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firerss earn more nationally. The median is $68,840 for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firerss versus $40,240 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands, a difference of $29K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?
BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.
Which requires more education, Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers typically requires no formal educational credential. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firerss get paid the most?
Washington is the top-paying state for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firerss at $85,140/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firerss earn $85,140 vs. $46,190 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.