Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Kentucky make a median of $56,410 a year, or about $27.12 an hour. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $62,518 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 29.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Kentucky. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
Where the paycheck goes
What $56K actually covers in Kentucky, month by month
About railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Pay for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers in Kentucky runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $69K. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $7K 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 annually. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $56K, rent takes 29.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/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 Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,748/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firer a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $56K here vs. $69K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers?
Kentucky pays $56K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — below the national median.
How much do railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers make in Kentucky?
The median is $56,410 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,240, and experienced railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers can clear $63,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,759/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 29.5% 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $62,518 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.