The median pay for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters is $78,000 a year ($37.50/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 0.9% through 2035, with about 3,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 53-4031
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster in four numbers
- Median pay
- $78,000a year, or $37.50/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $59KTop 10% $110K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +0.9%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+0.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +0.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 3,00038,900 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202538.9K
- Projected 203539.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 38.9K Projected 2035 39.2K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school85.6%
- Certificate8.4%
- Associate's6%
Highest education held by railroad conductors and yardmasters Segment Value High school 85.6% Certificate 8.4% Associate's 6%
Also advertised as: Conductor, Freight Conductor, Freight Train Conductor, Local Freight Conductor, Railroad Conductor, Railway Yardmaster.
Pay
How much do Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters make?
Every railroad conductor and yardmaster in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$78,000
Middle half earn $65,610 to $83,820
- 10th
- $58,740
- 25th
- $65,610
- 75th
- $83,820
- 90th
- $109,770
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $58,740 |
| 25th | $65,610 |
| Median | $78,000 |
| 75th | $83,820 |
| 90th | $109,770 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $78,000
- Median hourly wage
- $37.50/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $79,100
- People employed
- 46,440
Versus all US occupations
At $78,000, Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters earn 53% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $27,020 a year.
Versus transportation and material moving occupations
Inside the Transportation and Material Moving group, where the middle occupation pays $62,840, this is 24% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $109,770 or more while the bottom 10% earn $58,740, a gap of 1.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 55% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Oklahoma pays the most at $102,260, and still leads at $116,412 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Oklahoma | $102,260 | $116,412 | 310 |
| 2Pennsylvania | $83,610 | $85,691 | 2,750 |
| 3Maryland | $83,390 | $79,450 | 300 |
| 4Indiana | $81,260 | $87,068 | 1,720 |
| 5Delaware | $80,410 | $80,565 | N/A |
| 6New York | $80,000 | $74,128 | 6,980 |
| 7Virginia | $79,900 | $79,028 | 900 |
| 8Illinois | $79,820 | $79,854 | 2,790 |
| 9Florida | $79,600 | $76,972 | 760 |
| 10Washington | $79,040 | $73,860 | 810 |
Job outlook
Is Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +0.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | +0.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters to change 0.9% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 300 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 3,000 openings are projected each year, 7.7% of the 38,900 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of railroad workers is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035.
Despite limited employment growth, about 6,100 openings for railroad workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
The expected increase in intermodal freight activity, the shipment of goods through multiple transportation modes, may support demand for railroad workers. However, railroads’ efforts to operate more efficiently, such as by deploying automated systems, are likely to limit employment.
Getting in
How to become a Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster
Workers in railroad occupations typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and several months of on-the-job training.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as railroad conductors and yardmasters.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)85.6%
- Post-Secondary Certificate8.4%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 85.6% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 8.4% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster do?
Coordinate activities of switch-engine crew within railroad yard, industrial plant, or similar location. Conductors coordinate activities of train crew on passenger or freight trains. Yardmasters review train schedules and switching orders and coordinate activities of workers engaged in railroad traffic operations, such as the makeup or breakup of trains and yard switching.
Railroad workers ensure that passenger and freight trains run on time and travel safely. Some workers drive trains, some coordinate the activities of the trains, and others operate signals and switches in the rail yard.
Day-to-day tasks
- Direct engineers to move cars to fit planned train configurations, combining or separating cars to make up or break up trains.
- Review schedules, switching orders, way bills, and shipping records to obtain cargo loading and unloading information and to plan work.
- Direct and instruct workers engaged in yard activities, such as switching tracks, coupling and uncoupling cars, and routing inbound and outbound traffic.
- Receive instructions from dispatchers regarding trains' routes, timetables, and cargoes.
- Signal engineers to begin train runs, stop trains, or change speed, using telecommunications equipment or hand signals.
- Arrange for the removal of defective cars from trains at stations or stops.
- Keep records of the contents and destination of each train car, and make sure that cars are added or removed at proper points on routes.
- Receive information regarding train or rail problems from dispatchers or from electronic monitoring devices.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Because trains operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, railroad workers’ schedules may vary to include nights, weekends, and holidays. Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Federal regulations require a minimum number of rest hours for train operators.
Locomotive engineers and conductors whose trains travel long routes may be away from home for long periods. Those who work on passenger trains with short routes generally have more predictable schedules. Workers on some freight trains have irregular schedules.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Speaking3.8
- Monitoring3.8
- Critical Thinking3.6
- Active Listening3.5
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Writing3.0
- Active Learning3.0
- Learning Strategies2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.6 |
| Active Listening | 3.5 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 |
| Writing | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Coordination3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.5
- Time Management3.5
- Operations Monitoring3.4
- Complex Problem Solving3.3
- Operation and Control3.3
- Persuasion3.0
- Quality Control Analysis3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coordination | 3.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.5 |
| Time Management | 3.5 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.4 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.3 |
| Operation and Control | 3.3 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Expert system software
- Industrial control software
- Inventory management software
- Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic5.8
- Conventional4.9
- Enterprising3.8
- Investigative2.0
- Social1.9
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster
O*NET related occupations
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator and Locomotive Firer
$68,840median a year
Most earn $46K to $87K
+0.8%High school - Transportation and Material Moving
Rail Yard Engineer, Dinkey Operator, and Hostler
$60,600median a year
Most earn $45K to $100K
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- Office and Administrative Support
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- First-Line Supervisor of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators · $62,840 median
More transportation and material moving careers
Median annual pay, with railroad conductors and yardmasters highlighted
- Airline Pilot$232,140
- Commercial Pilot$123,220
- Locomotive Engineer$81,410
- Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster$78,000
- Crane and Tower Operator$68,080
- Flight Attendant$63,580
- Truck Driver$58,640
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$49,690
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator$46,420
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Airline Pilot | $232,140 |
| Commercial Pilot | $123,220 |
| Locomotive Engineer | $81,410 |
| Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster | $78,000 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $68,080 |
| Flight Attendant | $63,580 |
| Truck Driver | $58,640 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $49,690 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator | $46,420 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster appears on
Questions
Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster: frequently asked questions
How much do Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters make?
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters earn a median of $78,000 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 53% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $37.50/hr. The middle half earn between $65,610 and $83,820. The top 10% earn $109,770 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 85.6% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 0.9% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 3,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster do?
Railroad workers ensure that passenger and freight trains run on time and travel safely. A core O*NET task: direct engineers to move cars to fit planned train configurations, combining or separating cars to make up or break up trains. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Office suite software, Presentation software.
Which states pay Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters the most?
The highest state medians for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters are Oklahoma ($102,260), Pennsylvania ($83,610), Maryland ($83,390) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster?
O*NET scores Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ESTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.