Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers salary
in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
- Middle 50%
- $48,410–$86,590
- vs U.S. median
- +5%
- Metro rank
- #1 of 2
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro earn a median of $72,180 a year, based on BLS estimates for 560 jobs (May 2025). That is 5% above the U.S. median of $68,840 and 5% below the IL statewide median of $76,290. It ranks #1 of 2 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE560 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
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RELATED JOBS IN CHICAGO
Questions
What is the average Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers salary in Chicago?
The BLS median is $72,180 a year (May 2025). Half of the 560 jobs pay between $48,410 and $86,590. The 10th percentile is $48,410 and the 90th is $86,590.
Is Chicago a high-paying metro for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers?
That is 5% above the U.S. median of $68,840 and 5% below the IL statewide median of $76,290. It ranks #1 of 2 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers make an hour in Chicago?
About $34.70 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $72,180 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $23.27–$41.63 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.