SalariesWhat the occupation covers
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.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 53-4031.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $58,740 | $4,895 | $1,130 | $28.24 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $65,610 | $5,468 | $1,262 | $31.54 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $78,000 | $6,500 | $1,500 | $37.50 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $83,820 | $6,985 | $1,612 | $40.30 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $109,770 | $9,148 | $2,111 | $52.78 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters is $78,000, which is 53% higher. Among the 50 occupations of the field Transportation and Material Moving, it ranks number 9 by median pay. With 46,440 jobs, it makes up about 3.0 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters pay by state
The highest median pay was in Oklahoma ($102,260), Pennsylvania ($83,610) and Maryland ($83,390). The lowest was in Kentucky ($52,380), West Virginia ($55,180) and North Carolina ($58,930). The most jobs were in New York (6,980), Texas (4,640) and Illinois (2,790). The occupation is most concentrated in Kansas, where its share of all jobs is 2.8 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 310 | $102,260 | $94,440 | $49.16 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,750 | $83,610 | $78,750 | $40.20 |
| Maryland | 300 | $83,390 | $88,340 | $40.09 |
| Indiana | 1,720 | $81,260 | $81,500 | $39.07 |
| Delaware | not published | $80,410 | $87,540 | $38.66 |
| New York | 6,980 | $80,000 | $86,720 | $38.46 |
| Virginia | 900 | $79,900 | $78,770 | $38.41 |
| Illinois | 2,790 | $79,820 | $89,110 | $38.38 |
| Florida | 760 | $79,600 | $85,030 | $38.27 |
| Washington | 810 | $79,040 | $81,600 | $38.00 |
| Michigan | 760 | $78,960 | $78,350 | $37.96 |
| Minnesota | 830 | $78,930 | $83,640 | $37.95 |
| Arizona | 460 | $78,080 | $83,390 | $37.54 |
| Mississippi | 440 | $78,010 | $86,160 | $37.50 |
| New Mexico | 400 | $77,890 | $75,150 | $37.45 |
| Colorado | 490 | $77,550 | $83,220 | $37.28 |
| Georgia | 1,740 | $75,810 | $77,670 | $36.45 |
| South Carolina | 420 | $73,660 | $72,890 | $35.42 |
| Tennessee | 790 | $71,740 | $72,560 | $34.49 |
| California | 1,500 | $69,950 | $76,110 | $33.63 |
| Texas | 4,640 | $68,980 | $67,100 | $33.16 |
| Kansas | 1,200 | $68,730 | $62,980 | $33.05 |
| Oregon | 390 | $68,580 | $70,320 | $32.97 |
| Wyoming | not published | $68,430 | $80,360 | $32.90 |
| Missouri | 970 | $68,030 | $69,990 | $32.71 |
| Arkansas | 390 | $67,710 | $70,610 | $32.56 |
| South Dakota | 90 | $62,730 | $61,410 | $30.16 |
| Louisiana | 390 | $62,170 | $59,890 | $29.89 |
| Ohio | 1,480 | $61,390 | $61,810 | $29.52 |
| Wisconsin | 630 | $59,690 | $64,110 | $28.70 |
| North Carolina | not published | $58,930 | $68,070 | $28.33 |
| West Virginia | 320 | $55,180 | $65,470 | $26.53 |
| Kentucky | 110 | $52,380 | $50,230 | $25.18 |
| Idaho | 270 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Transportation Inspectors$92,100 a year
- Subway and Streetcar Operators$86,380 a year
- Locomotive Engineers$81,410 a year
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators$77,320 a year
- Wellhead Pumpers$69,960 a year
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers$68,840 a year
Common questions
How much do Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters earn in the United States?
The median pay was $78,000 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $58,740 and the highest-paid 10% more than $109,770.
How many people work as Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters?
About 46,440 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.