Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 53-4022.00
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.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.17–0.20· 2 ISCO-08 groups
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
ILO value for each linked ISCO-08 group
- ISCO-08 8311Locomotive Engine Drivers0.20
- ISCO-08 8312Railway Brake, Signal and Switch Operators0.17
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only28 rated tasks · 7 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (25.0%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- 3 rated tasks are not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; their scores are kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Receive oral or written instructions from yardmasters or yard conductors indicating track assignments and cars to be switched.O*NET Task ID 23784 | 1.0 |
Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed.O*NET Task ID 23798 | 1.0 |
Answer questions from passengers concerning train rules, stations, and timetable information.O*NET Task ID 23800 | 1.0 |
Monitor trains as they go around curves to detect dragging equipment and smoking journal boxes.O*NET Task ID 23778 | 0.5 |
Observe tracks from left sides of locomotives to detect obstructions on tracks.O*NET Task ID 23780 | 0.5 |
Inspect locomotives to detect damaged or worn parts.O*NET Task ID 23785 | 0.5 |
Monitor oil, temperature, and pressure gauges on dashboards to determine if engines are operating safely and efficiently.O*NET Task ID 23788 | 0.5 |
Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers.O*NET Task ID 23774 | 0.0 |
Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.O*NET Task ID 23775 | 0.0 |
Pull or push track switches to reroute cars.O*NET Task ID 23776 | 0.0 |
Observe signals from other crew members so that work activities can be coordinated.O*NET Task ID 23777 | 0.0 |
Inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly.O*NET Task ID 23779 | 0.0 |
Operate locomotives in emergency situations.O*NET Task ID 23781 | 0.0 |
Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains.O*NET Task ID 23782 | 0.0 |
Climb ladders to tops of cars to set brakes.O*NET Task ID 23783 | 0.0 |
Signal other workers to set brakes and to throw track switches when switching cars from trains to way stations.O*NET Task ID 23786 | 0.0 |
Check to see that trains are equipped with supplies such as fuel, water, and sand.O*NET Task ID 23787 | 0.0 |
Set flares, flags, lanterns, or torpedoes in front and at rear of trains during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains.O*NET Task ID 23789 | 0.0 |
Inspect tracks, cars, and engines for defects and to determine service needs, sending engines and cars for repairs as necessary.O*NET Task ID 23790 | 0.0 |
Start diesel engines to warm engines before runs.O*NET Task ID 23791 | 0.0 |
Make minor repairs to couplings, air hoses, and journal boxes, using hand tools.O*NET Task ID 23792 | 0.0 |
Connect air hoses to cars, using wrenches.O*NET Task ID 23793 | 0.0 |
Operate and drive locomotives, diesel switch engines, dinkey engines, flatcars, and railcars in train yards and at industrial sites.O*NET Task ID 23794 | 0.0 |
Refuel and lubricate engines.O*NET Task ID 23795 | 0.0 |
Ride atop cars that have been shunted, and turn handwheels to control speeds or stop cars at specified positions.O*NET Task ID 23796 | 0.0 |
Adjust controls to regulate air-conditioning, heating, and lighting on trains for comfort of passengers.O*NET Task ID 23797 | 0.0 |
Provide passengers with assistance entering and exiting trains.O*NET Task ID 23799 | 0.0 |
Conduct brake tests to determine the condition of brakes on trains.O*NET Task ID 23801 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (25)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers. | Core |
| Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication. | Core |
| Pull or push track switches to reroute cars. | Core |
| Observe signals from other crew members so that work activities can be coordinated. | Core |
| Monitor trains as they go around curves to detect dragging equipment and smoking journal boxes. | Core |
| Inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly. | Core |
| Observe tracks from left sides of locomotives to detect obstructions on tracks. | Core |
| Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains. | Core |
| Receive oral or written instructions from yardmasters or yard conductors indicating track assignments and cars to be switched. | Core |
| Signal other workers to set brakes and to throw track switches when switching cars from trains to way stations. | Core |
| Inspect tracks, cars, and engines for defects and to determine service needs, sending engines and cars for repairs as necessary. | Core |
| Make minor repairs to couplings, air hoses, and journal boxes, using hand tools. | Core |
| Connect air hoses to cars, using wrenches. | Core |
| Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed. | Core |
| Conduct brake tests to determine the condition of brakes on trains. | Core |
| Operate locomotives in emergency situations. | Supplemental |
| Climb ladders to tops of cars to set brakes. | Supplemental |
| Inspect locomotives to detect damaged or worn parts. | Supplemental |
| Check to see that trains are equipped with supplies such as fuel, water, and sand. | Supplemental |
| Monitor oil, temperature, and pressure gauges on dashboards to determine if engines are operating safely and efficiently. | Supplemental |
| Set flares, flags, lanterns, or torpedoes in front and at rear of trains during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains. | Supplemental |
| Start diesel engines to warm engines before runs. | Supplemental |
| Operate and drive locomotives, diesel switch engines, dinkey engines, flatcars, and railcars in train yards and at industrial sites. | Supplemental |
| Refuel and lubricate engines. | Supplemental |
| Ride atop cars that have been shunted, and turn handwheels to control speeds or stop cars at specified positions. | Supplemental |
0.60/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Pull or push track switches to reroute cars. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Monitor trains as they go around curves to detect dragging equipment and smoking journal boxes. | E2 structured facilities |
| Inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Operate locomotives in emergency situations. | E2 structured facilities |
| Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains. | E0 none |
| Climb ladders to tops of cars to set brakes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Inspect locomotives to detect damaged or worn parts. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Check to see that trains are equipped with supplies such as fuel, water, and sand. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Set flares, flags, lanterns, or torpedoes in front and at rear of trains during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Inspect tracks, cars, and engines for defects and to determine service needs, sending engines and cars for repairs as necessary. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Start diesel engines to warm engines before runs. | E2 structured facilities |
| Make minor repairs to couplings, air hoses, and journal boxes, using hand tools. | E0 none |
| Connect air hoses to cars, using wrenches. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Operate and drive locomotives, diesel switch engines, dinkey engines, flatcars, and railcars in train yards and at industrial sites. | E2 structured facilities |
| Refuel and lubricate engines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Ride atop cars that have been shunted, and turn handwheels to control speeds or stop cars at specified positions. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Provide passengers with assistance entering and exiting trains. | E0 none |
| Conduct brake tests to determine the condition of brakes on trains. | E2 structured facilities |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 11K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 11K
- Change (2025–35)
- +0.8%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $68,840
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87120 | 철도운송 관련 종사원 | This occupation is narrower | confirmed |
| 23833 | 철도교통 관제사 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 8311Locomotive Engine Drivers
- ISCO-08 8312Railway Brake, Signal and Switch Operators
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- level crossing signalpersonESCO 8312.1This occupation is broader
Level crossing signalpersons operate equipment in the safeguarding of level crossings, according to safety regulations. They supervise the traffic situation arround the level crossing, and communicate with traffic controllers, drivers, and other signalpeople when necessary.
- rail switchpersonESCO 8312.2This occupation is broader
Rail switchpersons assist in the tasks of the traffic controller. They operate switches and signals according to rail traffic control instructions, according to regulations and compliant with safety rules.
- rail maintenance technicianESCO 3112.1.10Overlapping, not the same
Rail maintenance technicians execute routine inspections of railway tracks, powerlines, signage stations, switches, and other railway infrastructure. They are also sent out to repair defects quickly, safely, and at any time of the day or night.
- rail traffic controllerESCO 4323.13Overlapping, not the same
Rail traffic controllers operate signals and points that help make sure trains run safely and on time. They operate from a signal box in order to control the order and movement of trains and ensure safety at all times. They are responsible for maintaining safety standards when trains are running normally and also in degraded or emergency operational situations.
- shunterESCO 8312.3Overlapping, not the same
Shunters move shunting units with or without wagons or groups of wagons in order to build trains. They manage the driving of locomotives and are involved in switching wagons, making or splitting up trains in shunting yards or sidings. They operate according to the technical features, such as controlling movement via a remote control device.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| N4403 | Opérateur / Opératrice ferroviaire | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| N4405 | Agent / Agente d'exploitation du réseau ferré | Related, not a match |
| N4401 | Aiguilleur / Aiguilleure du rail | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| N4404 | Chef opérateur / Cheffe opératrice des manœuvres du réseau ferré | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 8312 | Agentes de maniobras ferroviarias | Same scope |
| 8311 | Maquinistas de locomotoras | Related, not a match |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 51522 | Berufe in der Überwachung und Steuerung des Eisenbahnverkehrsbetriebs - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 51112 | Berufe im technischen Eisenbahnbetrieb - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 632 | 鉄道輸送関連業務従事者 | This occupation is narrower |
| 609 | その他の鉄道運転従事者 | Related, not a match |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources