Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in New Jersey make a median of $74,160 a year, or about $35.65 an hour. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $74,653 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 42.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Jersey. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $74K get you in New Jersey?
About railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers
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What this looks like in New Jersey
Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers pay in New Jersey tracks closely to the national median, $74K locally vs. $69K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,067/month, which is 42.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $29K 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $74K, rent takes 42.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/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 New Jersey?
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 $3,171/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 65% 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 New Jersey?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $74K locally vs. $69K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers?
New Jersey pays $74K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers make in New Jersey?
The median is $74,160 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,850, and experienced railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers can clear $81,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,829/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 42.8% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $74,653 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.