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Salary comparison

Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers vs. Stockers and Order Fillers: Who Earns More?

Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firerss out-earn Stockers and Order Fillerss by $32K 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 Stockers and Order Fillerss at $37,330. The education gap is real: railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firer programs typically require no formal educational credential, while stockers and order filler programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firerss is Washington ($85,140); for Stockers and Order Fillerss it's Washington ($44,620).

Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
Stockers and Order Fillers
Median salary
$68,840
$37,330
Hourly rate
$33.1/hr
$17.95/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$45,660
$30,110
Senior level (90th %)
$86,590
$49,260
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
12,400
2,833,810
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
8.5%
Category
Transportation
Transportation
Top-paying state
Washington
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers median pay.

State
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
Stockers and Order Fillers
Washington
$85,140
$44,620
New York
$83,530
$39,030
Iowa
$80,910
$36,640
Maryland
$79,180
$37,690
Illinois
$76,290
$37,680
Colorado
$76,140
$42,350
New Jersey
$74,160
$37,250
Texas
$71,580
$36,840
Ohio
$67,770
$37,130
Missouri
$67,110
$36,710
California
$58,770
$42,870
Florida
$58,250
$36,400
Kentucky
$56,410
$36,810
Pennsylvania
$55,470
$36,640
Wyoming
$45,490
$39,580

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 Stockers and Order Fillerss?

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 $37,330 for Stockers and Order Fillerss, a difference of $32K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers or Stockers and Order Fillers?

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 Stockers and Order Fillers?

Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers typically requires no formal educational credential. Stockers and Order Fillers 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. Stockers and Order Fillers 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. $44,620 for Stockers and Order Fillerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers salary breakdownView →Full Stockers and Order Fillers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Stockers and Order Fillerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firersGuide →How to become a stockers and order fillersGuide →