Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters salary in the U.S.
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in the U.S. earn a median of $78,000 a year ($37.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 46,440 workers.
Pay ranges from $58,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,770 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $79,100, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for railroad conductors and yardmasters in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,740 | $28.24 |
| 25th percentile | $65,610 | $31.54 |
| Median | $78,000 | $37.50 |
| 75th percentile | $83,820 | $40.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $109,770 | $52.78 |
| Average (mean) | $79,100 | $38.03 |
Half of railroad conductors and yardmasters earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,500 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,250 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,000 |
| Weekly | $1,500 |
| Hourly | $37.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $102,260 | 310 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,610 | 2,750 |
| Maryland | $83,390 | 300 |
| Indiana | $81,260 | 1,720 |
| Delaware | $80,410 | n/a |
| New York | $80,000 | 6,980 |
| Virginia | $79,900 | 900 |
| Illinois | $79,820 | 2,790 |
| Florida | $79,600 | 760 |
| Washington | $79,040 | 810 |
| Michigan | $78,960 | 760 |
| Minnesota | $78,930 | 830 |
| Arizona | $78,080 | 460 |
| Mississippi | $78,010 | 440 |
| New Mexico | $77,890 | 400 |
| Colorado | $77,550 | 490 |
| Georgia | $75,810 | 1,740 |
| South Carolina | $73,660 | 420 |
| Tennessee | $71,740 | 790 |
| California | $69,950 | 1,500 |
| Texas | $68,980 | 4,640 |
| Kansas | $68,730 | 1,200 |
| Oregon | $68,580 | 390 |
| Wyoming | $68,430 | n/a |
| Missouri | $68,030 | 970 |
| Arkansas | $67,710 | 390 |
| South Dakota | $62,730 | 90 |
| Louisiana | $62,170 | 390 |
| Ohio | $61,390 | 1,480 |
| Wisconsin | $59,690 | 630 |
| North Carolina | $58,930 | n/a |
| West Virginia | $55,180 | 320 |
| Kentucky | $52,380 | 110 |
Best-paying metro areas for railroad conductors and yardmasters
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $96,120 | 80 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $92,400 | 50 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $80,000 | 3,800 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $59,790 | 70 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $46,440 | 190 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $45,600 | 70 |
| Savannah, GA | $38,020 | 90 |
Metro areas with the most railroad conductors and yardmasters
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,800 | $80,000 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 190 | $46,440 |
| Savannah, GA | 90 | $38,020 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 80 | $96,120 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 70 | $45,600 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 70 | $59,790 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 50 | $92,400 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Locomotive Engineer | $81,410 | $39.14 |
| Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | $68,840 | $33.10 |
| Subway and Streetcar Operators | $86,380 | $41.53 |
| Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers | $60,600 | $29.14 |
| Rail Transportation Workers, All Other | $56,360 | $27.10 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,640 | $28.19 |
| Light Truck Driver | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,890 | $30.23 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $38,770 | $18.64 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $47,920 | $23.04 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-4031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a railroad conductors and yardmasters make in the U.S.?
The median salary for railroad conductors and yardmasters in the U.S. is $78,000 a year, or $37.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $58,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid railroad conductors and yardmasters make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of railroad conductors and yardmasters in the U.S. earn at least $109,770 a year. The top 25% earn $83,820 or more.
What is the starting pay for railroad conductors and yardmasters in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $58,740 a year, and a quarter of railroad conductors and yardmasters earn $65,610 or less.
How many railroad conductors and yardmasters work in the U.S.?
About 46,440 railroad conductors and yardmasters are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.