Transportation · SOC 53-4022
Monitoring live signals, physical coupling inspection, and safety observation duties are deeply embedded in the physical environment.
Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
Timeline: Automated inspection drones and sensors are entering rail yards, but the coordination and hands-on safety verification role stays human through regulatory mandate well into the 2030s.
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$67,130 median pay
$47,040 median pay
$66,370 median pay
$38,940 median pay
$71,510 median pay
$171,000 median pay
AI job-risk card
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers is resilient on AIFear. Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
AIFear.com
Our AI Fear Score for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers is 22/100 (Resilient). Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
22 out of 100, based on an AI-model review of this occupation's O*NET tasks against what current AI can actually do.
Most exposed: Receiving written switching instructions from yardmasters. Harder to automate: Observing and verifying train signal meanings for engineers, Monitoring trains on curves for dragging equipment, Inspecting couplings, air hoses, and handbrakes physically, Coordinating crew activities through direct observation.
Lean into Railroad safety signal systems, Physical equipment inspection, Crew coordination and communication, Hazard identification and reporting. Consider roles such as Rail safety compliance inspector or Railroad operations supervisor or Train dispatcher.
Tasks, skills and AI-exposure for this role were reviewed by an AI model against its O*NET task profile (curated roles use published research anchors). Pay and employment, where shown, are U.S. BLS OEWS (May 2024) figures. This is an estimate, not a prediction about any individual's job. Compare all occupations.