Railroad conductors and yardmasters salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $58,740 | $28.24 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $78,000 | $37.50 |
| Mean (average) | $79,100 | $38.03 |
| 90th percentile | $109,770 | $52.78 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Railroad conductors and yardmasters pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 34 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $78,080 | $62,930 | $121,330 | 460 | 0.47 |
| Arkansas | $67,710 | $47,210 | $83,290 | 390 | 0.99 |
| California | $69,950 | $69,230 | $113,680 | 1,500 | 0.27 |
| Colorado | $77,550 | $59,020 | $123,860 | 490 | 0.57 |
| Delaware | $80,410 | $74,530 | $130,710 | ||
| Florida | $79,600 | $50,430 | $121,460 | 760 | 0.26 |
| Georgia | $75,810 | $46,450 | $126,950 | 1,740 | 1.19 |
| Idaho | Data unavailable | 270 | 1.05 | ||
| Illinois | $79,820 | $63,290 | $134,440 | 2,790 | 1.53 |
| Indiana | $81,260 | $64,240 | $96,820 | 1,720 | 1.8 |
| Kansas | $68,730 | $49,190 | $71,400 | 1,200 | 2.79 |
| Kentucky | $52,380 | $30,620 | $76,280 | 110 | 0.18 |
| Louisiana | $62,170 | $45,240 | $71,850 | 390 | 0.67 |
| Maryland | $83,390 | $65,300 | $97,510 | 300 | 0.36 |
| Michigan | $78,960 | $58,850 | $92,710 | 760 | 0.58 |
| Minnesota | $78,930 | $78,800 | $91,400 | 830 | 0.94 |
| Mississippi | $78,010 | $49,030 | $137,590 | 440 | 1.27 |
| Missouri | $68,030 | $59,990 | $68,590 | 970 | 1.1 |
| New Mexico | $77,890 | $64,890 | $77,890 | 400 | 1.54 |
| New York | $80,000 | $65,610 | $109,770 | 6,980 | 2.41 |
| North Carolina | $58,930 | $52,040 | $92,220 | ||
| Ohio | $61,390 | $61,340 | $67,600 | 1,480 | 0.89 |
| Oklahoma | $102,260 | $51,360 | $128,140 | 310 | 0.61 |
| Oregon | $68,580 | $59,160 | $77,160 | 390 | 0.67 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,610 | $58,990 | $83,870 | 2,750 | 1.52 |
| South Carolina | $73,660 | $73,660 | $73,660 | 420 | 0.6 |
| South Dakota | $62,730 | $46,320 | $80,580 | 90 | 0.67 |
| Tennessee | $71,740 | $47,220 | $92,980 | 790 | 0.81 |
| Texas | $68,980 | $45,680 | $79,400 | 4,640 | 1.1 |
| Virginia | $79,900 | $63,860 | $79,900 | 900 | 0.73 |
| Washington | $79,040 | $63,880 | $120,630 | 810 | 0.76 |
| West Virginia | $55,180 | $46,570 | $99,330 | 320 | 1.54 |
| Wisconsin | $59,690 | $50,540 | $74,500 | 630 | 0.72 |
| Wyoming | $68,430 | $68,430 | $107,560 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for railroad conductors and yardmasters
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for railroad conductors and yardmasters
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Railroad and Railway Transportation CIP 49.0208
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Observe yard traffic to determine tracks available to accommodate inbound and outbound traffic.
- Receive instructions from dispatchers regarding trains' routes, timetables, and cargoes.
- Direct and instruct workers engaged in yard activities, such as switching tracks, coupling and uncoupling cars, and routing inbound and outbound traffic.
- Signal engineers to begin train runs, stop trains, or change speed, using telecommunications equipment or hand signals.
- Direct engineers to move cars to fit planned train configurations, combining or separating cars to make up or break up trains.
- Confirm routes and destination information for freight cars.
- Arrange for the removal of defective cars from trains at stations or stops.
- Review schedules, switching orders, way bills, and shipping records to obtain cargo loading and unloading information and to plan work.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Automated equipment identification AEI software
- Bourque Data Systems YardMaster
- Freight reservation software
- Inventory tracking software
- Positive train control PTC systems
- RailComm DocYard
- SAIC government services and IT support software
- Softrail AEI Automatic Yard Tracking System
- Softrail AEI Rail & Road Manager
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Operations Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving, Operation and Control.
Common job titles: Conductor, Freight Conductor, Freight Train Conductor, Local Freight Conductor, Railroad Conductor, Railway Yardmaster, Thru Freight Conductor, Train Master, Trainman, Yardmaster.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do railroad conductors and yardmasters make?
The national median annual wage for railroad conductors and yardmasters was $78,000 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $58,740 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $109,770. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do railroad conductors and yardmasters need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is railroad conductors and yardmasters a growing career?
BLS projects employment of railroad conductors and yardmasters to change +0.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay railroad conductors and yardmasters the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Oklahoma ($102,260), Pennsylvania ($83,610), Maryland ($83,390). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.