Career Paths From Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Locomotive EngineersLateral Move94.6% skill match
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers and Locomotive Engineers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Locomotive Engineers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 18% higher.
Current median salary
$68,840
Target median salary
$81,410
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Commercial PilotsAdvancement95.8% skill match
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers and Commercial Pilots share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Commercial Pilots is typically a step up, requiring more preparation and paying more. Job Zone is higher (3 vs 2). Median salary is about 79% higher.
Current median salary
$68,840
Target median salary
$123,220
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Bus Drivers, SchoolLateral Move94.5% skill match
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers and Bus Drivers, School share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Bus Drivers, School sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 30% lower.
Current median salary
$68,840
Target median salary
$47,920
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Bridge and Lock TendersLateral Move95.2% skill match
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers and Bridge and Lock Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Bridge and Lock Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 16% lower.
Current median salary
$68,840
Target median salary
$57,700
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Power Distributors and DispatchersCareer Change92.2% skill match
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers and Power Distributors and Dispatchers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Power Distributors and Dispatchers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (3 vs 2). Median salary is about 55% higher.
Current median salary
$68,840
Target median salary
$106,730
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Tree Trimmers and PrunersCareer Change92.7% skill match
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers and Tree Trimmers and Pruners share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Tree Trimmers and Pruners is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 26% lower.
Current median salary
$68,840
Target median salary
$50,960
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, VegetationCareer Change93.9% skill match
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers and Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 33% lower.
Current median salary
$68,840
Target median salary
$46,340
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and TendersCareer Change93.4% skill match
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers and Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 30% lower.
Current median salary
$68,840
Target median salary
$48,040
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Nuclear Power Reactor OperatorsCareer Change92.7% skill match
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers and Nuclear Power Reactor Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Nuclear Power Reactor Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (3 vs 2). Median salary is about 79% higher.
Current median salary
$68,840
Target median salary
$122,890
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandLateral Move96.7% skill match
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers and Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 42% lower.
Current median salary
$68,840
Target median salary
$40,240
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Food BatchmakersCareer Change93.1% skill match
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers and Food Batchmakers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Food Batchmakers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 39% lower.
Current median salary
$68,840
Target median salary
$42,290
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and TendersCareer Change95.4% skill match
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers and Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 37% lower.
Current median salary
$68,840
Target median salary
$43,530
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Meter Readers, UtilitiesCareer Change92.5% skill match
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers and Meter Readers, Utilities share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Meter Readers, Utilities is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 30% lower.
Current median salary
$68,840
Target median salary
$48,150
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Hazardous Materials Removal WorkersCareer Change92.8% skill match
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers and Hazardous Materials Removal Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Hazardous Materials Removal Workers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (3 vs 2). Median salary is about 28% lower.
Current median salary
$68,840
Target median salary
$49,450
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Fiberglass Laminators and FabricatorsCareer Change95.3% skill match
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers and Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 32% lower.
Current median salary
$68,840
Target median salary
$46,880
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.