Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in California make a median of $58,770 a year, or about $28.25 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $55,370 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 64.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of California. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $59K get you in California?
About railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers
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What this looks like in California
Pay for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers in California runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $69K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 62.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California 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 California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 62.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,089/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 80% 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 California?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $59K here vs. $69K nationally.
How does California compare to the national average for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers?
California pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — below the national median.
How much do railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers make in California?
The median is $58,770 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,480, and experienced railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers can clear $70,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,954/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 62.5% 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 California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers salary is worth about $55,370 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.