Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Salary
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · 46K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$78,000
Median hourly
$38
Average annual
$79,100
Typical range
$58,740–$109,770
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters is $78,000 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $38 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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.
Most earn between $58,740 and $109,770 a year. There are roughly 46K people employed as railroad conductors and yardmasters in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters.
- Hourly
- $37.50
- Daily
- $300
- Weekly
- $1,500
- Bi-weekly
- $3,000
- Monthly
- $6,500
- Annual
- $78,000
$78,000 a year is around the 50th percentile for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasterss. The median is $78,000.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$96,120
- 2Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$92,400
- 3New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$80,000
- 4Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$59,790
- 5Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$46,440
- 6Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$45,600
- 7Savannah, GA$38,020
Related job titles
Employers advertise Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Locomotive Engineers$81,410
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers$68,840
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers$60,600
- Subway and Streetcar Operators$86,380
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$50,340
- Air Traffic Controllers$148,080
- Transportation Inspectors$92,100
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$58,170
What a Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters does
- 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.
- Direct and instruct workers engaged in yard activities, such as switching tracks, coupling and uncoupling cars, and routing inbound and outbound traffic.
- 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.
- Arrange for the removal of defective cars from trains at stations or stops.
- Direct engineers to move cars to fit planned train configurations, combining or separating cars to make up or break up trains.
- Verify accuracy of timekeeping instruments with engineers to ensure trains depart on time.
- Receive information regarding train or rail problems from dispatchers or from electronic monitoring devices.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters make?
- The median annual wage for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters is $78,000 ($38 per hour). Pay ranges from about $58,740 at the 10th percentile to $109,770 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $79,100, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Railroad Conductors and Yardmasterss the most?
- Oklahoma has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $102,260.
- Is Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 46K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters do?
- 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.; Direct and instruct workers engaged in yard activities, such as switching tracks, coupling and uncoupling cars, and routing inbound and outbound traffic..