Average Salary for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
SOC 53-4031 · Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in the United States is $74,080 ($35.62/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $53,490 at the 10th percentile to $103,350 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 42,710 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 35.3% since 2014.
Median Annual
$74,080
Mean Annual
$75,490
10th Pct
$53,490
75th Pct
$82,060
Employment
42,710
Salary Distribution
$53k
10th
$63k
25th
$74k
Median
$82k
75th
$103k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $85,560 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $83,200 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $78,050 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $58,280 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $46,380 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $90,860 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $90,860 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $83,200 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $78,050 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $78,050 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $78,050 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $78,050 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $78,050 |
| Rail Transportation | $73,640 |
| Rail Transportation | $73,640 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $71,930 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $71,930 |
| Manufacturing | $66,500 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $55,650 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation | $54,980 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land | $41,190 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation | $41,190 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $74,080 |
| 2023 | $71,130 |
| 2022 | $68,180 |
| 2021 | $63,960 |
| 2020 | $64,030 |
| 2019 | $65,990 |
| 2018 | $62,930 |
| 2017 | $60,300 |
| 2016 | $57,480 |
| 2015 | $55,930 |
| 2014 | $54,770 |