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Transit and Railroad Police

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipHigh pressure

What they do

Protect and police railroad and transit property, employees, or passengers.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $90,230 Median per year · $43.38/hr Most earn $57,690–$125,910

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Apprehend or remove trespassers or thieves from railroad property or coordinate with law enforcement agencies in apprehensions and removals.
  • Enforce traffic laws regarding the transit system and reprimand individuals who violate them.
  • Patrol railroad yards, cars, stations, or other facilities to protect company property or shipments and to maintain order.
  • Plan or implement special safety or preventive programs, such as fire or accident prevention.
  • Monitor transit areas and conduct security checks to protect railroad properties, patrons, and employees.
  • Direct security activities at derailments, fires, floods, or strikes involving railroad property.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 300 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals71.5%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals17.8%
  • Rail transportation10.6%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Transit and Railroad Police Officer is an entry-level job for people with a high school diploma who complete a certificate-style police or security training program. Most people spend about 6 months to 1 year in related security or public safety work before they start, so the whole path usually takes a few years from graduation.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school with strong grades in English, math, and civics, and stay out of serious legal trouble, since most police agencies run background checks.

  2. Security Guard

    6 months to 1 year

    Work at a building, event, or transit site to learn how to watch for problems, write incident reports, and deal calmly with the public.

  3. Transit or railroad police academy certificate

    4 to 6 months

    Complete a police training academy or certificate program that covers law, patrol skills, first aid, and firearms, which is required before you can carry a badge.

  4. Transit and Railroad Police Officer

    Ongoing

    Protect railroad or transit property, employees, and passengers, and respond to crimes, emergencies, and safety issues on trains, tracks, stations, and rail yards.

Where it can lead

  1. Sergeant (First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives)

    3-5 years of experience first

    Move from patrol into leading a small team of officers, handling schedules, reviewing reports, and coaching newer officers; this usually requires strong records and a supervisor exam or selection process.

  2. Detective or Criminal Investigator

    1-2 years of experience first

    Shift from patrol to investigating crimes such as theft, fraud, or assault on rail property, which involves more casework, interviews, and working with prosecutors.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take courses in civics, government, and psychologyThese classes build an understanding of laws, communities, and how people behave, which are useful in public safety work.
  • Get first aid and CPR certifiedMany schools and local Red Cross-style courses offer these, and they show employers you can respond to emergencies.
  • Join a leadership or service clubClubs like student council or a volunteer group teach teamwork, communication, and responsibility.
  • Get a part-time job that involves customer service or safetyWorking at a store, movie theater, or event venue helps you practice staying calm and handling people politely.
  • Volunteer with a local fire, EMS, or community safety groupVolunteering shows you what public safety work is like and gives you experience to list on applications.

In college

  • Major in criminal justice, criminology, or public safetyThese majors cover law enforcement procedures, which helps you understand the job and stand out to hiring agencies.
  • Work as a campus security or dispatch employeeCampus jobs give you real experience with incident reports, patrols, and working with the public.
  • Take a course in report writing or public speakingOfficers write many reports and testify in court, so clear writing and speaking are important skills.
  • Pursue a basic first aid, CPR, or emergency response certificationThese certifications are often required or preferred and show you can handle medical emergencies on the job.
  • Look into a summer internship or job with a transit agency, railroad, or local police departmentEven a non-police role, like a station attendant or dispatcher, helps you learn how transit operations and safety work together.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a transit or railroad police department whether they have ride-along or job shadow days, and ask what they look for in new hires.
  • Keep a clean record and build good habits now, such as being on time and staying calm under pressure, because background checks and reference checks matter a lot in this field.
  • Get a valid driver's license and learn basic first aid or CPR early, since these are commonly required or strongly preferred.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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