Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Salary in Michigan

Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firerss in Michigan have a median annual salary of $66,970, which works out to about $32.20 per hour, with a typical 25th–75th percentile range of $51,520 to $77,930, based on the latest BLS OEWS data.

53-4022 · Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers pay in Michigan at a glance

Median annual salary

$66,970

Median hourly wage

$32.20/hr

Average annual salary

$69,830

Average hourly wage

$33.57/hr

25th percentile

$51,520

75th percentile

$77,930

10th percentile

$40,890

90th percentile

$117,650

People employed

190

Salary distribution

Reported wage points from the lowest to the highest paid railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers roles in Michigan.

10th percentile
$40,890
25th percentile
$51,520
Median percentile
$66,970
75th percentile
$77,930
90th percentile
$117,650

Michigan vs U.S. salary

The median salary for railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers roles in Michigan is about 2.7% below the U.S. median of $68,840 for the same occupation.

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How much does a railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers make in Michigan?

Half of railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers roles in Michigan report earning more than $66,970 a year and half report earning less — that is the median. The mean (average) of $69,830 is pulled up or down by the highest and lowest earners, which is why the median is usually the better benchmark.

Salary range

A quarter of reported salaries fall below $51,520 and a quarter are above $77,930, so most railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers pay sits between those two figures. These percentiles describe how pay is spread across all reported roles — they are not a direct measure of years of experience.

What can affect railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers pay?

  • Years of experience and level of responsibility
  • Employer type and size
  • Specialization within the occupation
  • Certifications and licensing
  • Industry
  • Hours worked, shift patterns and overtime
  • The local labor market where the job is based

Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers pay in other states

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Methodology · Data sources

Salary figures are benchmarks and can vary by employer, experience, specialization, hours worked and other factors.