Transit and Railroad Police
Protect and police railroad and transit property, employees, or passengers.
Also called: Canine Officer (K-9 Officer), Field Training Advisor, Field Training Agent, Law Enforcement Officer, Officer, Patrol Man
Median pay
$90,230
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$57,690 – $125,910
People employed
4,390
Holland code
RCE
Realistic · Conventional · Enterprising
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 2.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 3.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 4.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 5.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 6.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 7.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
The hard parts
- Work outdoors in all weather
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
- Tight deadlines are common
Transit and Railroad Police pay by state
Annual median pay by state (9 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What transit and railroad police do
- 01Prepare reports documenting investigation activities and results.
- 02Monitor transit areas and conduct security checks to protect railroad properties, patrons, and employees.
- 03Apprehend or remove trespassers or thieves from railroad property or coordinate with law enforcement agencies in apprehensions and removals.
- 04Direct security activities at derailments, fires, floods, or strikes involving railroad property.
- 05Patrol railroad yards, cars, stations, or other facilities to protect company property or shipments and to maintain order.
- 06Investigate or direct investigations of freight theft, suspicious damage or loss of passengers' valuables, or other crimes on railroad property.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Writing
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Public Safety and Security
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Transportation
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Self-Control
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from transit and railroad police
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives82% · +18%
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators79% · −16%
- Compliance Officers76% · −11%
- Air Traffic Controllers75% · +64%
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers73% · +4%
Change into transit and railroad police
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Security Guards86% · $38,020
- Crossing Guards and Flaggers82% · $38,100
- Animal Control Workers81% · $45,660
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators79% · $75,920
- Public Safety Telecommunicators79% · $53,040
Majors that lead here
- Security and Loss Prevention Services
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.