SOC 53-4022 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers — Colorado
Colorado
The median wage for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Colorado is $76,140 per year, 10.6% above the national median of $68,840.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Colorado is $76,140 per year, 10.6% above the national median of $68,840. Half of workers earn between $70,680 and $97,940. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $48,150 and the ninetieth at $97,940.
Colorado ranks number 6th out of 24 states by median pay for this occupation. Of the 738 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 268th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,150 | −30.1% |
| 25th | $70,680 | +2.7% |
| Median (50th) | $76,140 | +10.6% |
| 75th | $97,940 | +42.3% |
| 90th | $97,940 | +42.3% |
| Mean | $81,040 | +17.7% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Colorado run 3.1% above the national average, so the median of $76,140 buys what $73,851 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 7.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$76,140as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$73,851US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $76,140 a year, 10.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,150 to $97,940 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- It ranks 6th of 24 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Colorado?
The median annual wage is $76,140, or $36.60 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $68,840, so pay in Colorado is 10.6% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Colorado earns more than $97,940 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,150 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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