Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers actually take home in Texas?
No state income tax — 18.3% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers earning $71,580 in Texas (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $71,580 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$7,588 | 10.6% |
| Texas State Income Tax | -$0 | 0.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$4,437 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$1,037 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$13,064 | 18.3% |
| Take-Home Pay | $58,515 | 81.7% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Texas.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $39,570 | -$5,791 | $33,778 | 14.6% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $46,810 | -$7,214 | $39,595 | 15.4% |
| Median (P50) | $71,580 | -$13,064 | $58,515 | 18.3% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $71,860 | -$13,147 | $58,712 | 18.3% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $71,860 | -$13,147 | $58,712 | 18.3% |
Texas has no state income tax, which means a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers keeps $58,515 of their $71,580 salary — 81.7% of gross pay. Only federal income tax and FICA reduce the paycheck, making Texas one of the most tax-friendly states for this occupation.
A Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Texas faces an effective total tax rate of only 18.3%, keeping 81.7% of every gross dollar. That leaves $58,516 net out of $71,580 gross — a favorable outcome compared to states with combined rates above 30%.
Texas is one of the few states with zero state income tax for wage earners. For a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers, that means the only deductions are federal income tax and FICA — no additional state withholding. This typically adds several thousand dollars per year compared to comparable states with income tax.
Federal income tax ($7,589) accounts for 58% of the total tax bill — the single largest deduction. FICA adds $5,476 (42%), and state tax the remaining $0 (0%).
For Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers after-tax pay, Texas ranks #5 of 24 states — top quartile. High gross wages or low state-tax burden (or both) drive the strong ranking.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $58,516 net/year works out to $4,876/month or $2,251/bi-weekly for this Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Texas — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Texas ranks #5 out of 24 states for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers after-tax take-home pay.
A Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Texas earning a median salary of $71,580 will take home approximately $58,515 per year after federal income tax ($7,588), state income tax ($0), and FICA ($5,475). That is $4,876 per month or $2,250 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Texas is 18.3%, broken down as: federal income tax 10.6%, Texas state tax 0.0%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
No, Texas does not levy a state income tax on wages. This means a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Texas only pays federal income tax and FICA taxes, resulting in a lower overall tax burden compared to most other states. The total effective rate is 18.3%.
After all taxes, a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Texas takes home approximately $4,876 per month, or about $28.13 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $71,580 for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers in Texas, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), Texas state income tax (no state income tax), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $58,515/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR