SOC 53-4022 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers — Houston
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
At $47,750, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers, 30.6% beneath the national figure of $68,840.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $47,750, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers, 30.6% beneath the national figure of $68,840. Pay ranges from under $40,060 at the tenth percentile to more than $63,370 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $46,720 to $57,820.
The area has 270 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.04 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Of the 699 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 455th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,060 | −41.8% |
| 25th | $46,720 | −32.1% |
| Median (50th) | $47,750 | −30.6% |
| 75th | $57,820 | −16.0% |
| 90th | $63,370 | −7.9% |
| Mean | $51,870 | −24.7% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Houston run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $47,750 goes as far as $49,176 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 28.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$47,750as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$49,176US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $47,750 a year, 30.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $40,060 to $63,370 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 270 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Houston, TX?
The median annual wage is $47,750, or $22.96 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 Houston, TX is 30.6% lower. 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 Houston, TX earns more than $63,370 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $40,060 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 270 jobs in this occupation in Houston, TX. Self-employed workers are not included.
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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