Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA make a median of $132,190 a year, or about $63.56 an hour. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $147K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.13), so that salary is closer to $118,951 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,501/month, or 29.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $132K get you in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue’s Regional Price Parity (111.13). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers
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What this looks like in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue sits well above the national pay line for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers, local pay runs about 92% higher than the U.S. median of $69K. Rent runs $2,501/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 11% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.13), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Entry-level railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $132K. Top earners bring in $147K or more, a $83K spread from bottom to top.
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $85K | +24% | 740 |
| New York | $84K | +21% | 220 |
| Iowa | $81K | +18% | 220 |
| Maryland | $79K | +15% | 100 |
| Illinois | $76K | +11% | 1,210 |
| Colorado | $76K | +11% | N/A |
| Georgia | $76K | +10% | 250 |
| New Jersey | $74K | +8% | 70 |
| New Mexico | $72K | +5% | 100 |
| Texas | $72K | +4% | 1,650 |
| Ohio | $68K | -2% | 280 |
| Missouri | $67K | -3% | 730 |
| Kansas | $67K | -3% | 390 |
| Michigan | $67K | -3% | 190 |
| Indiana | $65K | -6% | 160 |
| California | $59K | -15% | 1,340 |
| Florida | $58K | -15% | 130 |
| Kentucky | $56K | -18% | 170 |
| Alabama | $56K | -19% | 240 |
| Pennsylvania | $55K | -19% | 350 |
| North Carolina | $55K | -20% | 110 |
| Louisiana | $54K | -21% | 210 |
| West Virginia | $47K | -32% | 120 |
| Wyoming | $45K | -34% | 400 |
Showing 1–10 of 24 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Yes — at the median salary of $132K, rent takes 29.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,501/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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,869/month. At HUD’s $2,501/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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Local pay is 92% above the national median — $132K here vs. $69K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 11% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue compare to the national average for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays $132K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s +92%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.13), the purchasing-power equivalent is $119K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median is $132,190 a year, that works out to about $64 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,480, and experienced railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers can clear $147,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $132K enough to live in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,425/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,501/month, which eats 29.7% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has a Regional Price Parity of 111.13 (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 $118,951 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.