Transit and Railroad Police
Protect and police railroad and transit property, employees, or passengers.
Also called: Law Enforcement Officer · Patrol Man · Patrol Officer · Patrolman · Police Captain · Police Specialist
Median pay (national)
$82,320
$58,370–$141,870 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
3,000
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+3%
~200 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for transit and railroad police shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $141,870 versus $58,370 at the bottom 10% — 2.4x. The median of $82,320 leaves roughly 72% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +3% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 200 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 8 states with released data, California pays the most for this role (median $109,810, +33% vs the national median), while Colorado sits lowest at $62,440 — a 76% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Prepare reports documenting investigation activities and results.
- Monitor transit areas and conduct security checks to protect railroad properties, patrons, and employees.
- Apprehend or remove trespassers or thieves from railroad property or coordinate with law enforcement agencies in apprehensions and removals.
- Direct security activities at derailments, fires, floods, or strikes involving railroad property.
- Patrol railroad yards, cars, stations, or other facilities to protect company property or shipments and to maintain order.
- Enforce traffic laws regarding the transit system and reprimand individuals who violate them.
- Provide training to the public or law enforcement personnel in railroad safety or security.
- Investigate or direct investigations of freight theft, suspicious damage or loss of passengers' valuables, or other crimes on railroad property.
- Examine credentials of unauthorized persons attempting to enter secured areas.
- Plan or implement special safety or preventive programs, such as fire or accident prevention.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
- Crime mapping software
- Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System IAFIS
- Law enforcement information databases
- MapInfo Professional
- MapInfo StreetPro
- National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database
- SmugMug Flickr
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Public Safety and Security
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Transportation
- Education and Training
- Geography
- Psychology