Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Georgia make a median of $75,540 a year, or about $36.32 an hour. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $109K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $82,207 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,434/month, or 28.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Georgia. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $76K get you in Georgia?
About railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers
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What this looks like in Georgia
Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers pay in Georgia tracks closely to the national median, $76K locally vs. $69K nationwide, a 10% difference. Rent runs $1,434/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $109K or more, a $56K 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 Georgia 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 Georgia?
Yes — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 29.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,176/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Georgia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $76K locally vs. $69K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers?
Georgia pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s +10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers make in Georgia?
The median is $75,540 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,940, and experienced railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers can clear $109,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,819/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 29.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers salary go in Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers salary is worth about $82,207 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.