SOC 53-4022 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers — Illinois
Illinois · 1 metro areas compared
In Illinois the median wage for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers is $76,290 a year, which is 10.8% higher than the national figure of $68,840.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Illinois the median wage for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers is $76,290 a year, which is 10.8% higher than the national figure of $68,840. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $49,140 and $86,590. The lowest tenth earn under $48,410, while the highest tenth earn more than $99,430.
The area has 1,210 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 2.48 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Illinois ranks number 5th out of 24 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Chicago records the highest median at $72,180. Of the 747 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 273rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,410 | −29.7% |
| 25th | $49,140 | −28.6% |
| Median (50th) | $76,290 | +10.8% |
| 75th | $86,590 | +25.8% |
| 90th | $99,430 | +44.4% |
| Mean | $74,110 | +7.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $72,180 | 560 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Illinois sit close to the national average, so $76,290 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$76,290as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$76,290US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $76,290 a year, 10.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,410 to $99,430 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,210 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 5th of 24 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chicago, at $72,180.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Illinois?
The median annual wage is $76,290, or $36.68 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 Illinois is 10.8% 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 Illinois earns more than $99,430 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,410 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.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Chicago, at $72,180 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,210 jobs in this occupation in Illinois. 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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