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.
National median · BLS
$78,000
▲ +5.29%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$79,100
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
46,440
Jobs (BLS)
Highest-paying state (cost-adjusted)Loading…
Most jobsLoading…
Highest-paying metro (cost-adjusted)Loading…
Check your salary
Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$58,740
25th
$65,610
Median (50th)
$78,000
75th
$83,820
90th — top pay
$109,770
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
Type in either box; the other updates instantly.
⇄
Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
BLS projects employment of railroad conductors and yardmasters to grow 0.9% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 3,000 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
38,900 → 39,200
+300 jobs
Projected change
+0.9%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
3,000
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Coordination3.8
Monitoring3.8
Speaking3.8
Critical Thinking3.6
Active Listening3.5
Judgment and Decision Making3.5
Time Management3.5
Operations Monitoring3.4
Complex Problem Solving3.3
Operation and Control3.3
Top knowledge areas
Public Safety and Security4.0
Transportation4.0
English Language3.5
Education and Training3.1
Law and Government3.0
Customer and Personal Service2.9
Telecommunications2.9
Mechanical2.9
Software and technology used
Microsoft Office softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordAutomated equipment identification AEI softwareBourque Data Systems YardMasterFreight reservation softwareInventory tracking softwarePositive train control PTC systemsRailComm DocYardSAIC government services and IT support softwareSoftrail AEI Automatic Yard Tracking SystemSoftrail AEI Rail & Road Manager
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What railroad conductors and yardmasters do
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.
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $78,000.
