SOC 53-4022 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers — Seattle
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
In Seattle, WA the median wage for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers reaches $132,190 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Seattle, WA the median wage for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers reaches $132,190 a year. That is 92.0% more than the national median of $68,840. Pay ranges from under $64,480 at the tenth percentile to more than $147,350 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $106,340 to $132,190.
The area has 40 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.24 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Of the 693 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 92nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $64,480 | −6.3% |
| 25th | $106,340 | +54.5% |
| Median (50th) | $132,190 | +92.0% |
| 75th | $132,190 | +92.0% |
| 90th | $147,350 | +114.0% |
| Mean | $118,860 | +72.7% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Seattle run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $132,190 buys what $123,542 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 79.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$132,190as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$123,542US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $132,190 a year, 92.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $64,480 to $147,350 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Seattle, WA?
The median annual wage is $132,190, or $63.56 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 Seattle, WA is 92.0% 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 Seattle, WA earns more than $147,350 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $64,480 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 40 jobs in this occupation in Seattle, WA. 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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