Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Wyoming make a median of $45,490 a year, or about $21.87 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.16), that's roughly $47,804 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,008/month, about 30.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Wyoming. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $45K get you in Wyoming?
About railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers
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What this looks like in Wyoming
Pay for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers in Wyoming runs about 34% below the U.S. median of $69K. Rent runs $1,008/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 95.16) 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, Wyoming
Entry-level railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $30K 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 Wyoming 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 Wyoming?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 31.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Wyoming?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,405/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Wyoming?
Local pay runs 34% below the national median — $45K here vs. $69K nationally.
How does Wyoming compare to the national average for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers?
Wyoming pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s -34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 95.16), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — below the national median.
How much do railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers make in Wyoming?
The median is $45,490 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,090, and experienced railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers can clear $70,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Wyoming?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,216/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 31.3% 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 Wyoming?
Wyoming has a Regional Price Parity of 95.16 (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 $47,804 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.