Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Baton Rouge, LA make a median of $53,960 a year, or about $25.94 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers.
So what does $54K get you in Baton Rouge?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baton Rouge’s Regional Price Parity (90.8). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers
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What this looks like in Baton Rouge
Pay for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers in Baton Rouge runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $69K. Rent runs $1,204/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.8 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers in metros near Baton Rouge, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $48K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baton Rouge, LA
Entry-level railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $85K | +24% | 740 |
| New York | $84K | +21% | 220 |
| Iowa | $81K | +18% | 220 |
| Maryland | $79K | +15% | 100 |
| Illinois | $76K | +11% | 1,210 |
| Colorado | $76K | +11% | N/A |
| Georgia | $76K | +10% | 250 |
| New Jersey | $74K | +8% | 70 |
| New Mexico | $72K | +5% | 100 |
| Texas | $72K | +4% | 1,650 |
| Ohio | $68K | -2% | 280 |
| Missouri | $67K | -3% | 730 |
| Kansas | $67K | -3% | 390 |
| Michigan | $67K | -3% | 190 |
| Indiana | $65K | -6% | 160 |
| California | $59K | -15% | 1,340 |
| Florida | $58K | -15% | 130 |
| Kentucky | $56K | -18% | 170 |
| Alabama | $56K | -19% | 240 |
| Pennsylvania | $55K | -19% | 350 |
| North Carolina | $55K | -20% | 110 |
| Louisiana | $54K | -21% | 210 |
| West Virginia | $47K | -32% | 120 |
| Wyoming | $45K | -34% | 400 |
Showing 1–10 of 24 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Baton Rouge numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Baton Rouge?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 33.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,204/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers in Baton Rouge?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,633/month. At HUD’s $1,204/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firer a high-paying job in Baton Rouge?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $54K here vs. $69K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Baton Rouge compare to the national average for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers?
Baton Rouge pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.8), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — below the national median.
How much do railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers make in Baton Rouge, LA?
The median is $53,960 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,880, and experienced railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers can clear $70,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Baton Rouge?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,640/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,204/month, which eats 33.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers salary go in Baton Rouge?
Baton Rouge has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers salary is worth about $59,427 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.