Railway Brake, Signal and Switch Operators: Jobs in Demand in Europe (2025)
Railway Brake, Signal and Switch Operators is an official occupation group (ISCO-08 code 8312) used by the International Labour Organization and Eurostat.
- Braker (railway)
- Shunter (railway)
- Signaller (railway)
Latest railway brake, signal and switch operators job ads
Real vacancies from the official public employment services, updated daily. Job titles are translated into English automatically; the full ad opens on the official site in German or Swedish (your browser's translate button turns it into English).
Germany
142 open ads- Railway shunter
German title: Rangierer
ARWA Personaldienstleistungen GmbH · Lich, Hessen · Posted 2026-10-17 - Railway shunter
German title: Rangierer
Premium Food Group · Rheda-Wiedenbrück · Posted 2026-10-12 - Railway shunter
German title: Rangierer
Premium Food Group · Goseck · Posted 2026-10-12 - Railway shunter
German title: Rangierer
AlphaConsult KG - Brandenburg · Wittenberge, Prignitz · Posted 2026-10-05 - Railway shunter
German title: Rangierer
Tempton Personaldienstleistungen GmbH - NL Landau in der Pfalz · Speyer · Posted 2026-10-01 - Railway shunter
German title: Rangierer
ARWA Personaldienstleistungen GmbH · Straelen · Posted 2026-09-22
Source: Bundesagentur für Arbeit (German Federal Employment Agency). Ads are written by employers; Placeivo does not check them. See all ads in Germany
Where railway brake, signal and switch operators are needed in Europe
| Country | EURES 2025 | Average gross pay, all plant and machine operators and assemblers (2022) | 1-bed rent in the capital |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | Shortage | €3,040 a month * | Vienna: €1,250 |
| Germany | Shortage | €2,907 a month | Berlin: €1,350 |
| Italy | Shortage | €2,300 a month * | Rome: €1,300 |
| Netherlands | Shortage | €3,120 a month | Not yet verified |
| Finland | Shortage and surplus | €3,361 a month * | Helsinki: €1,150 |
| Bulgaria | Surplus | €626 a month | Sofia: €650 |
| Latvia | Surplus | €1,221 a month | Riga: €870 |
Pay: Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey 2022, mean gross monthly earnings of all plant and machine operators and assemblers in each country, in euros. This is the average for the whole occupation group, not for railway brake, signal and switch operators alone, and before tax. * Firms with 10 or more employees only. Rent: Eurostat, good-quality 1-bedroom flat in the capital, 2025.
What railway brake, signal and switch operators do
Railway brakers, signallers and shunters take charge of and safeguard railway freight trains during runs, control the movement of railway traffic by operating signals, switch rolling stock and make up trains in railway yards, make up trains for hauling in mines and control their movement.
Typical tasks
- Taking charge of and safeguarding freight train during run
- Controlling flow of railway traffic over section of line by operating signals and switches from control panel or signal box
- Switching and coupling rolling stock in railway yards and sidings in accordance with orders about loading, unloading and make-up of trains
- Making up trains for hauling by locomotive or cable and directing their movement along haulage ways in a mine or quarry
- Checking train systems and equipment such as air conditioning and heating systems, brakes and brake hoses prior to train run
Finding railway brake, signal and switch operators jobs in Europe
- EURES is the official job portal of the EU public employment services. The search above looks for "Braker (railway)".
- Some jobs are regulated professions: before you can work, your qualification may need to be recognised in the new country.
- If you are not an EU/EEA citizen you will usually need a work permit or a visa such as the EU Blue Card. Check the rules of the country's immigration authority.
Cost of living where the jobs are
Take-home pay needed to rent a good 1-bedroom flat in the capitals of countries reporting a shortage:
About this data
- Shortage and surplus: European Labour Authority, EURES Report on labour shortages and surpluses 2025, annex table 21 (published 2026). Each country's public employment service reports which occupations it finds hard to fill or in oversupply. Countries not listed did not report this occupation as either.
- Definition, tasks and job titles: International Labour Organization, ISCO-08 structure and definitions.
- Pay: Eurostat, Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (earn_ses22_48), by occupation group.
- Job ads: Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Germany) and Arbetsförmedlingen (Sweden), refreshed about once a day.