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What is a Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster?
Occupation Description 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.
Life As a Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster
- Confirm routes and destination information for freight cars.
- 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.
- Inspect freight cars for compliance with sealing procedures and record car numbers and seal numbers.
- Instruct workers to regulate air conditioning, lighting, and heating in passenger cars to ensure passengers’ comfort.
- Receive instructions from dispatchers regarding trains’ routes, timetables, and cargoes.
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What a Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters say are important on the job.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Other Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster Job Titles
- Centralized Traffic Control Operator (CTC Operator)
- Car Dispatcher
- Conductor and Engineer
- Switch Operators Supervisor
- Transportation Supervisor
Is There Going to be Demand for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters?
There were about 41,800 jobs for Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 3,700 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster are South Carolina, Texas, and Nebraska. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Louisiana, or Oregon. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Make A Lot Of Money?
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters make between $44,690 and $95,330 a year.
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters who work in Maryland, California, or Wyoming, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,850 |
| Arizona | $56,130 |
| Arkansas | $61,660 |
| California | $75,170 |
| District of Columbia | $66,770 |
| Florida | $62,260 |
| Georgia | $59,700 |
| Idaho | $61,060 |
| Illinois | $68,410 |
| Indiana | $62,370 |
| Kansas | $65,260 |
| Kentucky | $52,230 |
| Maine | $62,130 |
| Maryland | $77,790 |
| Massachusetts | $73,950 |
| Michigan | $62,460 |
| Minnesota | $69,500 |
| Missouri | $66,910 |
| Montana | $63,050 |
| Nebraska | $66,910 |
| Nevada | $67,010 |
| New Hampshire | $40,690 |
| New Jersey | $70,500 |
| New Mexico | $68,350 |
| New York | $66,560 |
| North Carolina | $56,380 |
| Ohio | $66,830 |
| Oklahoma | $42,680 |
| Oregon | $70,030 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,110 |
| South Carolina | $60,540 |
| South Dakota | $66,880 |
| Tennessee | $68,900 |
| Texas | $69,560 |
| Utah | $59,440 |
| Virginia | $68,130 |
| Washington | $67,560 |
| West Virginia | $62,080 |
| Wisconsin | $67,840 |
| Wyoming | $72,660 |
What Tools & Technology do Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Office
- Inventory tracking software
How do I Become a Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster?
Are there Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters education requirements?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Who Employs Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters?
The table below shows the approximate number of Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters employed by various industries.
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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