Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters salary by state
Signal engineers to begin train runs, stop trains, or change speed, using telecommunications equipment or hand signals.
Confer with engineers regarding train routes, timetables, and cargoes, and to discuss alternative routes when there are rail defects or obstructions.
Receive information regarding train or rail problems from dispatchers or from electronic monitoring devices.
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.
Top skills:SpeakingMonitoringCoordinationCritical ThinkingTime ManagementJudgment and Decision Making
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters pay by experience level
Entry level$61,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$68,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$80,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$87,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$113,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+1.1%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
3,100
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters salary by industry
Rail Transportation
40,760 workers
$83,500
Rail Transportation
40,760 workers
$83,500
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
4,020 workers
$79,000
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
3,790 workers
$78,000
Support Activities for Transportation
1,000 workers
$54,000
Support Activities for Rail Transportation
990 workers
$53,500
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation
250 workers
$50,500
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land
250 workers
$50,500
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
230 workers
$95,500
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services$54,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters pays 19% above the average across 53 roles in the Transportation and Material Moving job family (family average $69,000).
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