Shigoto Zukan
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Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers job outlookprojected pay in 10 years $92,500 · outlook score 47/100 · BLS employment projections

United States Transportation Confidence ★★★★★

Median annual pay
$68,840
25th–75th pct. $57,820–$76,590
Top pay (est.)
$112,600
Top 10% $86,590
Pay in 5 years
$79,800est.
2031
Pay in 10 years
$92,500est.
$79,500–$107,400
Outlook score
47/100
★★☆☆☆ Average
AI replacement risk
29%
Low
Job growth (10 yr)
+0.8%
900 openings / yr

Projected pay for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers (3, 5 and 10 years)est.

Today $68,840 → in 3 years $75,200 → in 5 years $79,800 → in 10 years $92,500 (10-year range $79,500–$107,400). The model assumes pay growth of +3.0% per year.

$68,840
Now
2026
$75,200
In 3 yrs
2029
$69,500–$81,900
$79,800
In 5 yrs
2031
$71,900–$88,900
$92,500
In 10 yrs
2036
$79,500–$107,400

What drives the annual growth rate

Base wage growth +3.0%Labor demand -0.16%AI impact +0.16%Total +3.0% / yr

Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →

Outlook score for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

47/100
★★☆☆☆
Average · ranked #554 of all U.S. occupations
Pay level
60 pts
AI resistance
71 pts
Entry barrier
41 pts
Annual openings
23 pts
Projected growth
32 pts

Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.

Labor demand for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

Employment
12K
BLS OEWS
Projected employment
11K
2025–35
Projected change
+0.8%
ranked #551 for growth
Annual openings
900
growth + replacement needs
Demand score
Low
27/100
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None
in a related occupation
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training

Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.

Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data
Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35; O*NET 31.0 Database by USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0), modified by Shigoto Zukan. Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.