SOC 53-4022 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers — Michigan
Michigan
At $66,970, median pay for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Michigan tracks the national median of $68,840 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $66,970, median pay for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Michigan tracks the national median of $68,840 closely. Pay ranges from under $40,890 at the tenth percentile to more than $117,650 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $51,520 to $77,930.
Employment stands at 190, or 0.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Michigan ranks number 14th out of 24 states by median pay for this occupation. Of the 774 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 277th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,890 | −40.6% |
| 25th | $51,520 | −25.2% |
| Median (50th) | $66,970 | −2.7% |
| 75th | $77,930 | +13.2% |
| 90th | $117,650 | +70.9% |
| Mean | $69,830 | +1.4% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Michigan run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $66,970 goes as far as $69,615 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 1.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$66,970as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$69,615US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $66,970 a year, 2.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $40,890 to $117,650 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 190 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 14th 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 Michigan?
The median annual wage is $66,970, or $32.20 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 Michigan is 2.7% 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 Michigan earns more than $117,650 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $40,890 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 190 jobs in this occupation in Michigan. 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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