| Important Core Job Duties (in order of importance) For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Monitor trains as they go around curves to detect dragging equipment and smoking journal boxes. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Observe tracks from left sides of locomotives to detect obstructions on tracks. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Receive oral or written instructions from yardmasters or yard conductors indicating track assignments and cars to be switched. |
| Importance: 97 (%) | Description: Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains. |
| Importance: 97 (%) | Description: Pull or push track switches to reroute cars. |
| Importance: 95 (%) | Description: Monitor oil, temperature, and pressure gauges on dashboards to determine if engines are operating safely and efficiently. |
| Importance: 95 (%) | Description: Check to see that trains are equipped with supplies such as fuel, water, and sand. |
| Importance: 95 (%) | Description: Inspect locomotives to detect damaged or worn parts. |
| Importance: 95 (%) | Description: Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication. |
| Importance: 94 (%) | Description: Observe signals from other crew members so that work activities can be coordinated. |
| Importance: 91 (%) | Description: Climb ladders to tops of cars to set brakes. |
| Importance: 90 (%) | Description: Start diesel engines to warm engines before runs. |
| Importance: 85 (%) | Description: Operate locomotives in emergency situations. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Make minor repairs to couplings, air hoses, and journal boxes, using hand tools. |
| Importance: 78 (%) | Description: Inspect tracks, cars, and engines for defects and to determine service needs, sending engines and cars for repairs as necessary. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Set flares, flags, lanterns, or torpedoes in front and at rear of trains during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Signal other workers to set brakes and to throw track switches when switching cars from trains to way stations. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Connect air hoses to cars, using wrenches. |
Fire Technology Careers and Jobs
Select, Find and Prepare for Fire Technology Careers and Jobs - all on one page
For physically capable people seeking a public-safety career with a clear academy-based entry path. Use the tools below to see which fire technology roles fit your background and goals.
Firefighting requires passing a physical agility test and academy training in addition to any fire technology coursework. Use the tools below to explore Fire Technology-related job titles sorted by growth rate, salary, or required education. You can start with entry points like Firefighter Trainee, or look ahead to advanced roles such as Fire Captain or Fire Chief. Along the way, you will see specific certifications, such as Firefighter I/II Certification, that can help you move up the career ladder.
Here is a short Helper Video 
This page will take you through 4 steps to (1) Select from Fire Technology careers/jobs, (2) Find Fire Technology job listings, (3) Prepare for Fire Technology careers, and (4) Provide Fire Technology career-specific resources.
Step 1: Select a Career/Job: This page starts with 4 ways for you to identify and select from listings of Fire Technology careers/jobs:
A) Fastest Growing Fire Technology Careers - 2023 to 2033 (est.)
These listings are based on job growth estimates and helps you to identify the fastest growing and evolving Fire Technology careers. Some careers may not initially seem related to Fire Technology, so relevant Fire Technology jobs are listed alongside each listing. This can also help us to identify which careers (bottom of the listing) may have negative growth - perhaps due to automation or planned obsolescence.
B) Median Annual Salary U.S. Fire Technology Careers
These listings are sorted (descending) by median annual salary in the U.S. This may help us to identify our ideal career. We may not qualify at this time for the desired career, but this listing and the results provided can help us to explore job details, as well as learn how to appropriately prepare for the career.
C) Fire Technology Career Ladders (Educational Requirements)
These listings will help us to identify Fire Technology careers sorted by educational requirements (with the most difficult to obtain listed first). This may help us to identify career ladders (as we scroll down the list), and help us to get jobs that we qualify for now.
D) Select From a Listing of 70 Fire Technology Jobs.
The list may be quite long. There are two ways you might like to use this list:
1) Filter - As you enter a word, you will filter (limit) the list of job titles
2) Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply explore the list of job titles. There may be many that you might never have considered to be of interest.
Once you have identified a job title of interest, simply click on it.
Step 2: Find a Job: After you have selected a career/job title above, you will see a form asking for your location. You will see several radio selection choices to utilize the job search site of your choice.
Step 3: Prepare For a Career: In this section you will gain access to detailed information to help you prepare for the chosen career. Information may include (not every career choice includes all of the elements below - updates occur quarterly):
Core Duties: Lists the primary worker-related tasks performed in this occupation
Supplemental Duties: Lists additional tasks that are performed but are secondary to the core duties
Work Activities: Summarizes the broad types of behaviors and actions related to this career
Specific Work Activities: Provides more granular day-to-day activities tied to the work performed
Essential Skills: Provides foundational skills that are core to performing this specific occupation
Transferable Skills: Provides career-portable skills that can be applied across multiple occupations and industries
Day-in-the-Life Summaries: Provides a snapshot of the key activities performed on a typical workday in this career
Knowledge Required: Provides the requirements regarding the acquisition of facts and principles
Software Skills: Lists software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized by category and priority
Preparation Required: Provides a summary of the required experience and education
Education Required: Detailed breakdown of the education required
Training and Experience Required: Detailed breakdown of the training and Training and Experience Required
Local Salary Information: Provides national and local salary ranges
Certifications: Provides appropriate government and private-sector certifications and/or credentials that may be required
Professional Associations: Provides professional associations that are related to the career selected
Job Listings: Provides links to active current job listings for the selected career, along with multiple similar job titles to explore. All information appears on this page without navigating away.
Related Careers to Consider: Lists up to 20 careers that might be of interest to you (related to your initial choice - what they do, what they know, and what they're called), ranked by best fit.
** If you clicked on a link from section D (as described in Step 1 above), you will see one or more links to an occupation that is usually a bit more general than your initial job selection - the link(s) is directly related to the specific job you identified through your prior selections.
*NOTE: It is possible that there may not be a career path identified for the specific job you selected in Step 1. If this is the case, scroll up the page and click on a different career/job.
Step 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated): Continue to scroll down the page and you will find tabs that provide detailed (updated) links specific to the career you selected. This information includes:
Videos: Provides a listing of video links related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes: Sources for resume materials and techniques. This can help to get you started.
Job Description: Sources that provide job descriptions, which are vital to resume and interview preparation.
Interviews: Provides links that can help you to prepare for and successfully complete the job interview. Can also assist with coffee chats.
Step by Step: Provides links to resources that can help to organize the career search process.
LinkedIn: One of the best professional social media sites that provides links, opportunities, and networking specifically for careers and career development.
Step 1 of 4: Select a Career/Job
13 Fire Technology careers are listed below (sorted by Percentage Change in Total Job Openings - 2023 to 2033 est.). Fire Technology-related jobs specific to each career are also provided. This shows which careers are emerging and growing the fastest. Please Scroll and Select below:
| Occupations | U.S. Job Openings 2023-2033 (% change) | Fire Technology-Related Jobs |
15 Fire Technology careers are listed below (sorted by U.S. National Median Salary). Fire Technology-related jobs specific to each occupation are also provided. Please Scroll and Select below::
| Occupations | National Median Salary | Fire Technology-Related Jobs |
15 Fire Technology careers are listed (sorted by Education/Preparation Requirements - descending) to provide career ladders. Fire Technology-related jobs specific to each career are also provided.
|
Education/Preparation Categories: 5 = Usually requires graduate school (e.g., Master's degree, Ph.D., M.D., or J.D.) 4 = Usually requires a four-year Bachelor's degree 3 = Usually requires vocational training, related on-the-job experience, or Associate's degree 2 = Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, but not always Please Scroll and Select below: |
||
| Occupations | Education/Preparation | Fire Technology-Related Jobs |
Scroll through the picklist (below). There are 70 specific Fire Technology job titles listed. Select those that may be of interest - you will get active job listing links, along with detailed resources to help you prepare for a career related to that job.
You can use this form two ways:
Filter - As you enter a keyword, you will filter (limit) the list of job titles below
Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply explore the list of job titles. There may be many that you might never have considered to be of interest.
OR - leave blank and scroll through the choices:
Select a Job Title (Scroll and Select) :
Step 2 of 4: Find a Job
Find Job Listings:
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers.
Step 3 of 4: Prepare For a Career
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
Description: Operate or monitor railroad track switches or locomotive instruments. May couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains. Watch for and relay traffic signals. May inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and hand brakes. May watch for dragging equipment or obstacles on rights-of-way.
Please click on a section below to expand and see detailed occupational information related to "Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers":
U.S. Total Employment (2023):
11,000U.S. Total Employment (2033 est.):
11,300
Employment Change (2023-2033 est.):
200 (2%) Average Annual Job Openings (2023-2033 est.):
1,000
Core Duties
Supplemental Duties
| Important Supplemental Job Duties (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Operate and drive locomotives, diesel switch engines, dinkey engines, flatcars, and railcars in train yards and at industrial sites. |
| Importance: 53 (%) | Description: Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed. |
| Importance: 38 (%) | Description: Ride atop cars that have been shunted, and turn handwheels to control speeds or stop cars at specified positions. |
| Importance: 28 (%) | Description: Refuel and lubricate engines. |
| Importance: 27 (%) | Description: Provide passengers with assistance entering and exiting trains. |
Work Activities
| Important General Work Activities (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 86 (%) | Description: Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Importance: 84 (%) | Description: Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
| Importance: 82 (%) | Description: Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. |
| Importance: 82 (%) | Description: Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Importance: 74 (%) | Description: Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles). |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. |
| Importance: 70 (%) | Description: Performing General Physical Activities: Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. |
| Importance: 65 (%) | Description: Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity. |
| Importance: 65 (%) | Description: Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
| Importance: 65 (%) | Description: Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
Specific Work Activities
| Important Specific Work Activities
How can you begin to build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. Specific Work Activities appear below: |
|
| Arrange maintenance activities. | |
| Assist passengers during vehicle boarding. | |
| Climb ladders or vehicles to perform duties. | |
| Connect hoses to equipment or machinery. | |
| Control equipment that regulates vehicle traffic. | |
| Inspect locomotives or other railroad equipment. | |
| Install parts, assemblies, or attachments in transportation or material handling equipment. | |
| Maintain locomotives or other rail equipment in good working condition. | |
| Monitor availability of equipment or supplies. | |
| Monitor engine operation or functioning. | |
| Monitor equipment gauges or displays to ensure proper operation. | |
| Monitor surroundings to detect potential hazards. | |
| Monitor traffic signals. | |
| Observe equipment in operation to detect potential problems. | |
| Operate locomotives or other rail vehicles. | |
| Receive information or instructions for performing work assignments. | |
| Record operational or production data. | |
| Record service or repair activities. | |
| Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement. | |
| Test mechanical systems to ensure proper functioning. | |
Knowledge Required
| Knowledge Required (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Transportation: Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions. |
| Importance: 65 (%) | Description: Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar. |
Essential Skills
| Essential Skills (in order of importance)
These are the foundational skills most central to success in this occupation. For the Top 5 most important, how can you begin building experience and confidence using these skills now? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 58 (%) | Description: Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. |
Transferable Skills
| Transferable Skills (in order of importance)
These are skills that can transfer across occupations and industries. For the Top 5 most important, how can you strengthen these skills now so they support both this career and future career flexibility? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems. |
Day-in-the-Life Summaries
| Day-in-the-Life Summaries These summaries show the main types of activities you are likely to perform on a regular basis in this occupation. How can you imagine your typical workday — using these examples to see if this type of work fits you? |
| Activity: Assemble equipment or components. |
| Activity: Climb equipment or structures. |
| Activity: Communicate with others about operational plans or activities. |
| Activity: Connect components or supply lines to equipment or tools. |
| Activity: Inspect vehicles. |
| Activity: Maintain operational records. |
| Activity: Maintain vehicles in working condition. |
| Activity: Monitor equipment operation. |
| Activity: Monitor resources or inventories. |
| Activity: Monitor safety or security of work areas, facilities, or properties. |
| Activity: Monitor traffic conditions. |
| Activity: Operate transportation equipment or vehicles. |
| Activity: Provide general assistance to others, such as customers, patrons, or motorists. |
| Activity: Schedule operational activities. |
| Activity: Signal others to coordinate work activities. |
| Activity: Test performance of equipment or systems. |
Software Skills
|
Software Skills These are examples of software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized from most to least important for your career preparation. How can you start learning or practicing the highest-priority tools so that you feel confident using them on the job? |
| High-Priority Tech Skills |
| Office suite software: |
| Microsoft Office software |
| Operating system software: |
| Google Android |
| Emerging Tech Skills |
| Electronic mail software: |
| Microsoft Outlook |
| Spreadsheet software: |
| Microsoft Excel |
| General Software Tools |
| Data base user interface and query software: |
| Electronic train management system software |
| Expert system software: |
| Electronic train management systems ETMS |
| Route navigation software: |
| Route mapping software |
| Time accounting software: |
| Time tracking software |
Preparation Required
| Preparation Required - How much preparation is needed to obtain this type of job? |
| Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed |
| Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. |
| Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. |
| Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. |
| These occupations involve following instructions and often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include dishwashers, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, counter and rental clerks, dental laboratory technicians, and security guards. |
Local Salary Information
Select a State (scroll and Select) :
Please select a State to see State and National Salaries
Professional Associations
| Professional Associations These associations connect people who work in this occupation or related fields. How can you start using these associations to learn more, build your network, or find mentoring opportunities? |
|
|
|
|
Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS)
| |
Job Listings
| Job Listings and Similar Occupational Titles - scroll and click to identify common requirements, keywords, and skills in current job listings |
Related Careers to Consider
Step 4 of 4: Career-Specific Resources
This section contains detailed external resources appropriate to "Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers". Explore these resources to start learning more. Links are constantly updated, so bookmark this page.
Videos
Here is a listing of videos related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes
Here are resources that allow you to see example resumes for this occupation. It may be helpful to see examples from others who have this type of experience.
Job Description
Here are resources that provide job descriptions, which are vital for resume and interview preparation.
Interviews
There are many great resources that can help guide you through the interview process. These links provide help in preparing and performing an effective interview, specific to this occupation.
Step-by-Step
Here are links to help guide you, step-by-step, to become a(n): Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
LinkedIn®
Here are links to various posts and groups from LinkedIn ® that relate to this occupation. Great way to start building professional contacts in the field that might be most appropriate for you.
Developed by Dr. Ralph Jagodka, Ed.D., Professor Emeritus of Business Management at Mt. San Antonio College and author of the Harvard Business Impact article "What to Do When Students Ask You for Career Advice." - Full bio. © 2026 About This Page
© 2026 - Disclaimer - Privacy