Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Maryland make a median of $79,180 a year, or about $38.07 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $80,174 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,795/month, about 34.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Maryland. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $79K get you in Maryland?
About railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers
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What this looks like in Maryland
Maryland sits well above the national pay line for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $69K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,795/month, which is 35.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maryland
Entry-level railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $54K 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 Maryland 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 Maryland?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 35.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,995/month. At HUD’s $1,795/month FMR, rent would take 60% 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 Maryland?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $79K here vs. $69K nationally.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers?
Maryland pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers make in Maryland?
The median is $79,180 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,920, and experienced railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers can clear $104,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,042/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 35.6% 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 Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (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 $80,174 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.