Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,480 a year or less, while the top 10% make $147,350 or more. The middle half of railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers in Seattle earn between $106,340 and $132,190.
- $64K10th
- $106K25th
- $132KMedian
- $132K75th
- $147K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $118,860 | $9,905 | $57.14 |
| Median | $132,190 | $11,016 | $63.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $106,340 | $8,862 | $51.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $132,190 | $11,016 | $63.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers in Seattle earn 46% more than the Washington average ($81,560) and 72% more than the U.S. average ($69,030). At the median the gap is +92% against the U.S. median of $68,840.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $118,860 | $132,190 | $64,480 | $147,350 | 40 |
| Washington | $81,560 | $85,140 | $62,360 | $85,140 | 740 |
| United States | $69,030 | $68,840 | $45,660 | $86,590 | 12,400 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers salary after taxes in Seattle
On the average salary of $118,860, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $92,448 a year, or $7,704 a month and $3,556 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $118,860 buys what about $106,953 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers salary in nearby metro areas
- Chicago, IL$70,790
- Houston, TX$51,870
- Baton Rouge, LA$53,170
- New York, NY$106,980
Highest-paying cities for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers
Seattle, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($118,860).
- Seattle, WA$118,860
- New York, NY$106,980
- Chicago, IL$70,790
- Baton Rouge, LA$53,170
- Houston, TX$51,870
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers salary by city
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Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers salary in Seattle: questions
How much do railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers make an hour in Seattle?
$57.14 an hour on average, and $63.56 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,480 a year and the 25th percentile is $106,340, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers take-home pay in Seattle?
About $92,448 a year ($7,704 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $118,860. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 72% more than the U.S. average for this job ($69,030).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-4022; area Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.24, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.24).
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