Railroads use automated safety systems, remote-controlled yard locomotives and software that plans trains and crews. Locomotive engineers, conductors and signal operators still run trains, inspect equipment and keep freight moving safely across thousands of miles of track.
The short answer: the pressure here is automation of rail operations, not generative AI. The ILO's 2025 index rates locomotive engine drivers (0.20) and railway brake, signal and switch operators (0.17) as not exposed. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 1 percent growth for railroad workers from 2025 to 2035, slower than average, with about 6,100 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed railroad workers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Locomotive Engine Drivers | Not exposed | 0.20 |
| Railway Brake, Signal and Switch Operators | Not exposed | 0.17 |
The ILO index measures generative AI. Automated train control and remote-controlled locomotives are a different technology and are not what this score covers.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Railroad conductors and yardmasters | Grow 1% | In total |
| Locomotive engineers | Little or no change | In total |
| Railroad brake, signal and switch operators | Grow 1% | In total |
| Railroad workers, total | Grow 1% | About 6,100 |
The BLS says more intermodal freight, goods moved by more than one kind of transport, may support demand. It also says railroads' efforts to operate more efficiently, such as by deploying automated systems, are likely to limit employment. That makes this one of the jobs where the BLS names automation directly.
Where automation is showing up
- Automated safety systems that can stop a train.
- Remote-controlled locomotives in rail yards.
- Software for train planning, crew scheduling and car tracking.
- Track and equipment inspection from sensors.
What stays with railroad workers
- Running trains: handling long, heavy trains over changing grades and weather.
- Inspection: checking cars, brakes and couplings before departure.
- Safety calls: responding when something on the line is wrong.
- Checking AI help: AI answers about rules or procedures can be wrong, so the rulebook wins, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Railroads are using technology to run with fewer people per train mile, so headcount grows slowly even as freight grows. Workers who know the signal and control systems have more options.
See also will AI replace truck drivers?, will AI replace logistics jobs? and will AI replace dispatchers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for railroad occupations at $78,820 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: high school diploma or equivalent. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace railroad workers?
Not generative AI on current evidence; the ILO rates rail jobs as not exposed. But the BLS says automated systems are likely to limit employment, and it projects 1 percent growth from 2025 to 2035.
Does the BLS mention automation for railroad jobs?
Yes. It says railroads deploying automated systems to run more efficiently are likely to limit employment.
How many railroad openings are expected?
The BLS projects about 6,100 openings a year.
What railroad work stays human?
Running trains, inspecting equipment, safety calls and checking AI answers against the rules.