Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Salary in United States

Railroad Conductors and Yardmasterss in United States have a median annual salary of $78,000, which works out to about $37.50 per hour, with a typical 25th–75th percentile range of $65,610 to $83,820, based on the latest BLS OEWS data.

53-4031 · Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters pay in United States at a glance

Median annual salary

$78,000

Median hourly wage

$37.50/hr

Average annual salary

$79,100

Average hourly wage

$38.03/hr

25th percentile

$65,610

75th percentile

$83,820

10th percentile

$58,740

90th percentile

$109,770

People employed

46,440

Salary distribution

Reported wage points from the lowest to the highest paid railroad conductors and yardmasters roles in United States.

10th percentile
$58,740
25th percentile
$65,610
Median percentile
$78,000
75th percentile
$83,820
90th percentile
$109,770

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How much does a railroad conductors and yardmasters make in United States?

Half of railroad conductors and yardmasters roles in United States report earning more than $78,000 a year and half report earning less — that is the median. The mean (average) of $79,100 is pulled up or down by the highest and lowest earners, which is why the median is usually the better benchmark.

Salary range

A quarter of reported salaries fall below $65,610 and a quarter are above $83,820, so most railroad conductors and yardmasters pay sits between those two figures. These percentiles describe how pay is spread across all reported roles — they are not a direct measure of years of experience.

What can affect railroad conductors and yardmasters pay?

  • Years of experience and level of responsibility
  • Employer type and size
  • Specialization within the occupation
  • Certifications and licensing
  • Industry
  • Hours worked, shift patterns and overtime
  • The local labor market where the job is based

Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters pay in other states

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Methodology · Data sources

Salary figures are benchmarks and can vary by employer, experience, specialization, hours worked and other factors.