SOC 53-4022 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers — North Carolina
North Carolina
The median wage for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in North Carolina is $54,810 per year, 20.4% below 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 North Carolina is $54,810 per year, 20.4% below the national median of $68,840. Half of workers earn between $37,950 and $56,930. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $36,780 and the ninetieth at $87,560.
Employment stands at 110, or 0.0 jobs per thousand held locally. North Carolina ranks number 21st out of 24 states by median pay for this occupation. Of the 745 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 384th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,780 | −46.6% |
| 25th | $37,950 | −44.9% |
| Median (50th) | $54,810 | −20.4% |
| 75th | $56,930 | −17.3% |
| 90th | $87,560 | +27.2% |
| Mean | $57,300 | −16.8% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $54,810 goes as far as $58,123 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 15.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$54,810as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$58,123US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $54,810 a year, 20.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,780 to $87,560 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 110 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 21st 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 North Carolina?
The median annual wage is $54,810, or $26.35 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 North Carolina is 20.4% 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 North Carolina earns more than $87,560 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,780 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 110 jobs in this occupation in North Carolina. 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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