Overview
All Other Stationary Plant Operators
-
$1,886 Weekly Pay
-
Strong Future Growth
Railway Signal Operators
-
1,100 workers Employment Size
-
Lower skill Skill level rating
-
89% Full-Time Full-Time Share
-
46 hours Average full-time
-
45 years Average age
-
10% female Gender Share
Railway Signal Operators control the movement of trains, and assemble and disassemble trains within a marshalling yard.
Also known as: Railway Switching and Signalling Operator.
Specialisations: Railway Shunter, Railway Yard Assistant.
You can work as a Railway Signal Operator without formal qualifications, however, a certificate III or IV in mechanical or electrical rail signalling may be useful.
Tasks
- Directs trains within marshalling yards.
- Breaks apart and join train wagons and carriages.
- Places wagons, carriages and engines into sidings.
- Directs outgoing trains to the main line.
- May conduct safety checks.
Prospects
The number of people working as Railway Signal Operators (in their main job) fell over 5 years:
from 1,300 in 2011 to 1,100 in 2016.
Caution: The Australian jobs market is changing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These estimates do not take account of the impact of COVID-19. They may not reflect the current jobs market and should be used and interpreted with extreme caution.
- Size: This is a very small occupation.
- Location: Many Railway Signal Operators work in Queensland.
- Industries: Most work in Transport, Postal and Warehousing; Financial and Insurance Services; and Public Administration and Safety.
- Full-time: Most work full-time (89%, much higher than the average of 66%).
- Hours: Full-time workers spend around 46 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
- Age: The average age is 45 years (compared to the average of 40 years). Many workers are 45 years or older (52%).
- Gender: 10% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).
Main Industries
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).
States and Territories
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Education Level
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Pathways
You can work as a Railway Signal Operator without formal qualifications, however, a certificate III or IV in mechanical or electrical rail signalling may be useful.
Before starting a course, check it will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need. Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
Skills & Knowledge
Employers look for Stationary Plant Operators who communicate well with others, are polite, courteous and reliable.
Filter Skills & Knowledge
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
Transportation
Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
-
Public safety and security
Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
Mechanical
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
Customer and personal service
Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
Education and training
Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
Law and government
How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
Administration and management
Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
English language
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
Psychology
Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
Clerical
Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
Engineering and technology
Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
Personnel and human resources
Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
Telecommunications
Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
-
Computers and electronics
Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
Production and processing
Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
Physics
The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
-
Chemistry
Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
Sales and marketing
Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
-
Communications and media
Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
Operation monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
Operation and control
Controlling equipment or systems.
-
Monitoring
Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
Coordination with others
Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
Reading comprehension
Reading work related information.
-
Critical thinking
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
Time management
Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
Troubleshooting
Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
-
Complex problem solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
Judgment and decision making
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
Quality control analysis
Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
Instructing
Teaching people how to do something.
-
Active listening
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
Writing
Writing things for co-workers or customers.
-
Learning strategies
Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
-
Active learning
Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
Speaking
Talking to others.
-
Management of personnel resources
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
-
Serving others
Looking for ways to help people.
-
Social perceptiveness
Understanding why people react the way they do.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities.
-
Far vision
See details that are far away.
-
Control precision
Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
-
Extent flexibility
Bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
-
Auditory attention
Pay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.
-
Reaction time
Quickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.
-
Oral comprehension
Listen to and understand what people say.
-
Problem spotting
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
Multilimb coordination
Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
-
Selective attention
Pay attention to something without being distracted.
-
Near vision
See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
Trunk strength
Use your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
-
Perceptual speed
Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
-
Whole body coordination
Move your arms, legs, and body together.
-
Balance
Keep your balance or stay upright.
-
Finger dexterity
Put together small parts with your fingers.
-
Manual dexterity
Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
-
Colour discrimination
Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
-
Depth perception
Decide which thing is closer or further away from you, or decide how far away it is.
-
Arm-hand steadiness
Keep your hand or arm steady.
-
Speech recognition
Identify and understand the speech of another person.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
Doing physically active work
Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
Looking for changes over time
Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
Monitoring people, processes and things
Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
Handling and moving objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
Checking compliance with standards
Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
Checking for errors or defects
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
Researching and investigating
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
Building good relationships
Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
Controlling equipment or machines
Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
Keeping your knowledge up-to-date
Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
Communicating within a team
Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
Planning and prioritising work
Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
Assessing and evaluating things
Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
-
Documenting or recording information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
Estimating amounts, costs and resources
Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
Making decisions and solving problems
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
Driving vehicles or equipment
Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
-
Collecting and organising information
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
Training and teaching others
Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
-
Coordinating the work of a team
Getting members of a group to work together to finish a task.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 53-4021.00 - Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators.
Work Environment
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Filter Work Environment
Demands
The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.
-
Outdoors, exposed to weather
Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.
-
Loud or uncomfortable sounds
Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
-
Exposure to contaminants
Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
Dangerous equipment
Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.
-
Consequence of error
Work where mistakes have serious consequences.
-
Very hot or cold temperatures
Work in very hot or cold temperatures.
-
Wear common protective or safety equipment
Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
Face-to-face discussions
Talk with people face-to-face.
-
Teamwork
Work with people in a group or team.
-
Contact with people
Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
In an enclosed vehicle or equipment
Work in a closed vehicle (e.g., car).
-
Bright or inadequate lighting
Work in extremely bright or dark lighting conditions.
-
Time pressure
Work to strict deadlines.
-
Health and safety of others
Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
Frequent decision making
Frequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
Impact of decisions
Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
Freedom to make decisions
Have freedom to make decision on your own.
-
Using your hands to handle, control, or feel
Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
Dangerous conditions
Work near dangers like high voltage electricity, flammable material, explosives or chemicals.
-
Telephone
Talk on the telephone.
Values
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
-
Support
Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
Relationships
Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
-
Working conditions
Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
Independence
Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
Achievement
Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
Recognition
Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
Practical
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
Administrative
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
Enterprising
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
Analytical
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
Helping
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
Creative
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 53-4021.00 - Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators.
All Other Stationary Plant Operators
-
$1,886 Weekly Pay
-
Strong Future Growth
Railway Signal Operators
-
1,100 workers Employment Size
-
Lower skill Skill level rating
-
89% Full-Time Full-Time Share
-
46 hours Average full-time
-
45 years Average age
-
10% female Gender Share
Railway Signal Operators control the movement of trains, and assemble and disassemble trains within a marshalling yard.
Also known as: Railway Switching and Signalling Operator.
Specialisations: Railway Shunter, Railway Yard Assistant.
You can work as a Railway Signal Operator without formal qualifications, however, a certificate III or IV in mechanical or electrical rail signalling may be useful.
Tasks
- Directs trains within marshalling yards.
- Breaks apart and join train wagons and carriages.
- Places wagons, carriages and engines into sidings.
- Directs outgoing trains to the main line.
- May conduct safety checks.
The number of people working as Railway Signal Operators (in their main job) fell over 5 years:
from 1,300 in 2011 to 1,100 in 2016.
Caution: The Australian jobs market is changing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These estimates do not take account of the impact of COVID-19. They may not reflect the current jobs market and should be used and interpreted with extreme caution.
- Size: This is a very small occupation.
- Location: Many Railway Signal Operators work in Queensland.
- Industries: Most work in Transport, Postal and Warehousing; Financial and Insurance Services; and Public Administration and Safety.
- Full-time: Most work full-time (89%, much higher than the average of 66%).
- Hours: Full-time workers spend around 46 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
- Age: The average age is 45 years (compared to the average of 40 years). Many workers are 45 years or older (52%).
- Gender: 10% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).
Main Industries
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).
States and Territories
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Education Level
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
You can work as a Railway Signal Operator without formal qualifications, however, a certificate III or IV in mechanical or electrical rail signalling may be useful.
Before starting a course, check it will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need. Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
Employers look for Stationary Plant Operators who communicate well with others, are polite, courteous and reliable.
Filter Skills & Knowledge
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
Transportation
Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
-
Public safety and security
Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
Mechanical
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
Customer and personal service
Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
Education and training
Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
Law and government
How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
Administration and management
Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
English language
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
Psychology
Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
Clerical
Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
Engineering and technology
Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
Personnel and human resources
Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
Telecommunications
Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
-
Computers and electronics
Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
Production and processing
Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
Physics
The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
-
Chemistry
Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
Sales and marketing
Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
-
Communications and media
Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
Operation monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
Operation and control
Controlling equipment or systems.
-
Monitoring
Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
Coordination with others
Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
Reading comprehension
Reading work related information.
-
Critical thinking
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
Time management
Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
Troubleshooting
Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
-
Complex problem solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
Judgment and decision making
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
Quality control analysis
Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
Instructing
Teaching people how to do something.
-
Active listening
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
Writing
Writing things for co-workers or customers.
-
Learning strategies
Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
-
Active learning
Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
Speaking
Talking to others.
-
Management of personnel resources
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
-
Serving others
Looking for ways to help people.
-
Social perceptiveness
Understanding why people react the way they do.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities.
-
Far vision
See details that are far away.
-
Control precision
Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
-
Extent flexibility
Bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
-
Auditory attention
Pay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.
-
Reaction time
Quickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.
-
Oral comprehension
Listen to and understand what people say.
-
Problem spotting
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
Multilimb coordination
Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
-
Selective attention
Pay attention to something without being distracted.
-
Near vision
See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
Trunk strength
Use your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
-
Perceptual speed
Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
-
Whole body coordination
Move your arms, legs, and body together.
-
Balance
Keep your balance or stay upright.
-
Finger dexterity
Put together small parts with your fingers.
-
Manual dexterity
Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
-
Colour discrimination
Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
-
Depth perception
Decide which thing is closer or further away from you, or decide how far away it is.
-
Arm-hand steadiness
Keep your hand or arm steady.
-
Speech recognition
Identify and understand the speech of another person.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
Doing physically active work
Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
Looking for changes over time
Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
Monitoring people, processes and things
Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
Handling and moving objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
Checking compliance with standards
Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
Checking for errors or defects
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
Researching and investigating
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
Building good relationships
Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
Controlling equipment or machines
Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
Keeping your knowledge up-to-date
Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
Communicating within a team
Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
Planning and prioritising work
Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
Assessing and evaluating things
Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
-
Documenting or recording information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
Estimating amounts, costs and resources
Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
Making decisions and solving problems
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
Driving vehicles or equipment
Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
-
Collecting and organising information
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
Training and teaching others
Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
-
Coordinating the work of a team
Getting members of a group to work together to finish a task.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 53-4021.00 - Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators.
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Filter Work Environment
Demands
The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.
-
Outdoors, exposed to weather
Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.
-
Loud or uncomfortable sounds
Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
-
Exposure to contaminants
Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
Dangerous equipment
Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.
-
Consequence of error
Work where mistakes have serious consequences.
-
Very hot or cold temperatures
Work in very hot or cold temperatures.
-
Wear common protective or safety equipment
Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
Face-to-face discussions
Talk with people face-to-face.
-
Teamwork
Work with people in a group or team.
-
Contact with people
Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
In an enclosed vehicle or equipment
Work in a closed vehicle (e.g., car).
-
Bright or inadequate lighting
Work in extremely bright or dark lighting conditions.
-
Time pressure
Work to strict deadlines.
-
Health and safety of others
Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
Frequent decision making
Frequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
Impact of decisions
Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
Freedom to make decisions
Have freedom to make decision on your own.
-
Using your hands to handle, control, or feel
Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
Dangerous conditions
Work near dangers like high voltage electricity, flammable material, explosives or chemicals.
-
Telephone
Talk on the telephone.
Values
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
-
Support
Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
Relationships
Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
-
Working conditions
Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
Independence
Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
Achievement
Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
Recognition
Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
Practical
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
Administrative
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
Enterprising
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
Analytical
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
Helping
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
Creative
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 53-4021.00 - Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators.