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Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters: Career Overview
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.
The Daily Work of Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Take On?
Typical responsibilities of railroad conductors and yardmasters include:
- 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.
- Operate controls to activate track switches and traffic signals.
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top railroad conductors and yardmasters draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Car Chaser
- Car Dispatcher
- Car Distributor
- Car Spotter
- Centralized Traffic Control Operator (CTC Operator)
- Conductor
- Dispatch Manager
- Engine Supervisor
Employment and Demand
There are about 1,229,858 railroad conductors and yardmasters working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +3.3% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $61,311 |
| Hourly median | $29.48 |
| 10th percentile | $36,775 |
| 25th percentile | $49,043 |
| 75th percentile | $73,579 |
| 90th percentile | $85,847 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Indiana | $82,460 |
| Florida | $82,060 |
| Delaware | $80,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $79,180 |
| Maryland | $78,190 |
| New York | $78,050 |
| Nebraska | $77,330 |
| Virginia | $76,720 |
| Iowa | $76,640 |
| Oklahoma | $76,040 |
| Montana | $75,990 |
| Illinois | $75,970 |
| Arizona | $74,160 |
| Michigan | $73,780 |
| South Carolina | $72,520 |
| Minnesota | $71,930 |
| Idaho | $70,210 |
| Colorado | $70,000 |
| New Mexico | $69,460 |
| Wisconsin | $67,670 |
| Texas | $67,580 |
| California | $67,550 |
| Oregon | $66,910 |
| Wyoming | $66,760 |
| Missouri | $66,370 |
| Arkansas | $66,070 |
| Kansas | $65,940 |
| New Hampshire | $62,160 |
| West Virginia | $62,120 |
| Georgia | $61,920 |
| Tennessee | $61,890 |
| Washington | $61,860 |
| South Dakota | $61,860 |
| North Carolina | $55,880 |
| Ohio | $53,490 |
| Kentucky | $51,570 |
Where Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Earn the Most
Pay for railroad conductors and yardmasters shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $78,357 | 27.3% | 2.22 |
| Great Lakes | $73,709 | 17.6% | 1.32 |
| Plains States | $71,816 | 13.9% | 2.69 |
| Rocky Mountains | $70,962 | 2.3% | 0.81 |
| Southwest | $68,746 | 15.6% | 1.09 |
| Far Western US | $65,398 | 8.0% | 0.62 |
| Southeast | $62,882 | 15.2% | 0.85 |
| New England | $62,160 | 0.2% | 0.32 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $85,560 | 110 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | MN | $83,200 | 80 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $78,050 | 3,860 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $58,280 | 50 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | TN | $46,380 |
Industry Breakdown
Most railroad conductors and yardmasters are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 38,470 | $71,930 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 110 | $83,200 |
| Manufacturing | 110 | $66,500 |
Below are examples of industries where railroad conductors and yardmasters work:
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for railroad conductors and yardmasters is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Contact With Others
Education and Training
Entry-level railroad conductors and yardmasters positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Transit and Railroad Police (Supplemental)
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance (Primary-Short)
- Highway Maintenance Workers (Supplemental)
- Signal and Track Switch Repairers (Supplemental)
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers (Supplemental)
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors (Primary-Long)
- First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators (Primary-Long)
- First-Line Supervisors of Passenger Attendants (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Future railroad conductors and yardmasters commonly pursue programs in:
Transportation and Materials Moving
1 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 53-4031.00 (Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters).
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