Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters (SOC 53-4031) earn a median $78,000 a year ($37.50 an hour) in the United States, with 46,440 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Oklahoma.
What railroad conductors and yardmasters do
Railroad conductors and yardmasters coordinate train crews and the movement of cars. A conductor is in charge of a passenger or freight train: receiving routing, timetable, and cargo instructions from dispatchers, conferring with the engineer on the route and on alternatives when defects or obstructions appear, and signaling the engineer to start, stop, or change speed. A yardmaster works in a railroad yard or industrial plant and directs the switching crews that make up and break up trains, coupling and uncoupling cars and routing inbound and outbound traffic. Yardmasters read train schedules and switching orders, operate track switches and traffic signals and keep records of the contents and destination of each car so cars are added or removed at the proper points. They also arrange for defective cars to be taken out of trains. Both jobs rely on radio and electronic monitoring for information about train or rail problems.
Typical entry: O*NET reports that most workers in this occupation have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Also called: Car Chaser, Car Dispatcher, Car Distributor, Car Spotter, Centralized Traffic Control Operator (CTC Operator).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $28.24 | $31.54 | $37.50 | $40.30 | $52.78 | $38.03 | 46,440 |
| Annual | $58,740 | $65,610 | $78,000 | $83,820 | $109,770 | $79,100 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where railroad conductors and yardmasters earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Oklahoma | Hourly | $24.69 | $37.57 | $49.16 | $61.61 | $61.61 | $45.41 | 310 | 0.18 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $51,360 | $78,140 | $102,260 | $128,140 | $128,140 | $94,440 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $28.36 | $30.76 | $40.20 | $40.30 | $40.32 | $37.86 | 2,750 | 0.45 | 1.52 |
| Annual | $58,990 | $63,970 | $83,610 | $83,820 | $83,870 | $78,750 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $31.40 | $39.45 | $40.09 | $45.98 | $46.88 | $42.47 | 300 | 0.11 | 0.36 |
| Annual | $65,300 | $82,060 | $83,390 | $95,640 | $97,510 | $88,340 | ||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $30.88 | $38.09 | $39.07 | $40.04 | $46.55 | $39.18 | 1,720 | 0.54 | 1.80 |
| Annual | $64,240 | $79,220 | $81,260 | $83,280 | $96,820 | $81,500 | ||||
| Delaware | Hourly | $35.83 | $38.66 | $38.66 | $39.58 | $62.84 | $42.09 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $74,530 | $80,410 | $80,410 | $82,330 | $130,710 | $87,540 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $31.54 | $37.96 | $38.46 | $50.58 | $52.78 | $41.69 | 6,980 | 0.72 | 2.41 |
| Annual | $65,610 | $78,970 | $80,000 | $105,210 | $109,770 | $86,720 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $21.96 | $28.52 | $33.16 | $34.17 | $38.17 | $32.26 | 4,640 | 0.33 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $45,680 | $59,310 | $68,980 | $71,070 | $79,400 | $67,100 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $30.43 | $37.01 | $38.38 | $46.21 | $64.63 | $42.84 | 2,790 | 0.46 | 1.53 |
| Annual | $63,290 | $76,980 | $79,820 | $96,120 | $134,440 | $89,110 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $28.36 | $30.76 | $40.20 | $40.30 | $40.32 | $37.86 | 2,750 | 0.45 | 1.52 |
| Annual | $58,990 | $63,970 | $83,610 | $83,820 | $83,870 | $78,750 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $22.33 | $30.40 | $36.45 | $44.53 | $61.03 | $37.34 | 1,740 | 0.36 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $46,450 | $63,230 | $75,810 | $92,610 | $126,950 | $77,670 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $28.49 | $41.89 | $46.21 | $46.21 | $46.21 | $42.15 | 80 | 0.02 | 0.06 |
| Annual | $59,260 | $87,130 | $96,120 | $96,120 | $96,120 | $87,680 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $44.42 | $44.42 | $44.42 | $44.42 | $63.11 | $46.77 | 50 | 0.02 | 0.08 |
| Annual | $92,400 | $92,400 | $92,400 | $92,400 | $131,270 | $97,280 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $26.69 | $31.54 | $38.46 | $38.46 | $38.46 | $36.08 | 3,800 | 0.40 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $55,520 | $65,610 | $80,000 | $80,000 | $80,000 | $75,040 | ||||
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Hourly | $25.89 | $27.87 | $28.75 | $30.71 | $30.71 | $28.78 | 70 | 0.04 | 0.14 |
| Annual | $53,840 | $57,970 | $59,790 | $63,880 | $63,880 | $59,850 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $21.12 | $21.31 | $22.33 | $22.95 | $27.09 | $22.78 | 190 | 0.06 | 0.20 |
| Annual | $43,930 | $44,320 | $46,440 | $47,740 | $56,350 | $47,370 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $26.69 | $31.54 | $38.46 | $38.46 | $38.46 | $36.08 | 3,800 | 0.40 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $55,520 | $65,610 | $80,000 | $80,000 | $80,000 | $75,040 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $21.12 | $21.31 | $22.33 | $22.95 | $27.09 | $22.78 | 190 | 0.06 | 0.20 |
| Annual | $43,930 | $44,320 | $46,440 | $47,740 | $56,350 | $47,370 | ||||
| Savannah, GA | Hourly | $18.28 | $18.28 | $18.28 | $21.20 | $21.26 | $19.44 | 90 | 0.45 | 1.52 |
| Annual | $38,020 | $38,020 | $38,020 | $44,100 | $44,220 | $40,440 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $28.49 | $41.89 | $46.21 | $46.21 | $46.21 | $42.15 | 80 | 0.02 | 0.06 |
| Annual | $59,260 | $87,130 | $96,120 | $96,120 | $96,120 | $87,680 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $21.83 | $21.83 | $21.92 | $23.26 | $26.05 | $22.91 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.06 |
| Annual | $45,410 | $45,410 | $45,600 | $48,390 | $54,180 | $47,660 | ||||
Top industries employing railroad conductors and yardmasters
Rail Transportation employ 87.8% of railroad conductors and yardmasters nationally (40,760 jobs) at a median $77,890 a year ($37.45 an hour), followed by Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (8.2%) and Support Activities for Rail Transportation (2.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rail Transportation NAICS 482100 | 40,760 | 87.8% | $77,890 | $37.45 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 3,790 | 8.2% | $80,000 | $38.46 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation NAICS 488200 | 990 | 2.1% | $47,700 | $22.93 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land NAICS 487100 | 250 | 0.5% | $48,710 | $23.42 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 230 | 0.5% | $98,790 | $47.50 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (46,440). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $63,960 for railroad conductors and yardmasters in May 2021 and $78,000 in May 2025, with employment of 48,030 and 46,440.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $63,960 | $30.75 | 48,030 |
| May 2022 | $68,180 | $32.78 | 40,940 |
| May 2023 | $71,130 | $34.20 | 46,490 |
| May 2024 | $74,080 | $35.62 | 42,710 |
| May 2025 | $78,000 | $37.50 | 46,440 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
34 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma profile | $49.16 | $102,260 | $51,360 | $128,140 | 310 | 0.18 | 0.61 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania profile | $40.20 | $83,610 | $58,990 | $83,870 | 2,750 | 0.45 | 1.52 |
| 3 | Maryland profile | $40.09 | $83,390 | $65,300 | $97,510 | 300 | 0.11 | 0.36 |
| 4 | Indiana profile | $39.07 | $81,260 | $64,240 | $96,820 | 1,720 | 0.54 | 1.80 |
| 5 | Delaware profile | $38.66 | $80,410 | $74,530 | $130,710 | ** | ** | ** |
| 6 | New York profile | $38.46 | $80,000 | $65,610 | $109,770 | 6,980 | 0.72 | 2.41 |
| 7 | Virginia profile | $38.41 | $79,900 | $63,860 | $79,900 | 900 | 0.22 | 0.73 |
| 8 | Illinois profile | $38.38 | $79,820 | $63,290 | $134,440 | 2,790 | 0.46 | 1.53 |
| 9 | Florida profile | $38.27 | $79,600 | $50,430 | $121,460 | 760 | 0.08 | 0.26 |
| 10 | Washington profile | $38.00 | $79,040 | $63,880 | $120,630 | 810 | 0.23 | 0.76 |
| 11 | Michigan profile | $37.96 | $78,960 | $58,850 | $92,710 | 760 | 0.17 | 0.58 |
| 12 | Minnesota profile | $37.95 | $78,930 | $78,800 | $91,400 | 830 | 0.28 | 0.94 |
| 13 | Arizona profile | $37.54 | $78,080 | $62,930 | $121,330 | 460 | 0.14 | 0.47 |
| 14 | Mississippi profile | $37.50 | $78,010 | $49,030 | $137,590 | 440 | 0.38 | 1.27 |
| 15 | New Mexico profile | $37.45 | $77,890 | $64,890 | $77,890 | 400 | 0.46 | 1.54 |
| 16 | Colorado profile | $37.28 | $77,550 | $59,020 | $123,860 | 490 | 0.17 | 0.57 |
| 17 | Georgia profile | $36.45 | $75,810 | $46,450 | $126,950 | 1,740 | 0.36 | 1.19 |
| 18 | South Carolina profile | $35.42 | $73,660 | $73,660 | $73,660 | 420 | 0.18 | 0.60 |
| 19 | Tennessee profile | $34.49 | $71,740 | $47,220 | $92,980 | 790 | 0.24 | 0.81 |
| 20 | California profile | $33.63 | $69,950 | $69,230 | $113,680 | 1,500 | 0.08 | 0.27 |
| 21 | Texas profile | $33.16 | $68,980 | $45,680 | $79,400 | 4,640 | 0.33 | 1.10 |
| 22 | Kansas profile | $33.05 | $68,730 | $49,190 | $71,400 | 1,200 | 0.83 | 2.79 |
| 23 | Oregon profile | $32.97 | $68,580 | $59,160 | $77,160 | 390 | 0.20 | 0.67 |
| 24 | Wyoming profile | $32.90 | $68,430 | $68,430 | $107,560 | ** | ** | ** |
| 25 | Missouri profile | $32.71 | $68,030 | $59,990 | $68,590 | 970 | 0.33 | 1.10 |
| 26 | Arkansas profile | $32.56 | $67,710 | $47,210 | $83,290 | 390 | 0.30 | 0.99 |
| 27 | South Dakota profile | $30.16 | $62,730 | $46,320 | $80,580 | 90 | 0.20 | 0.67 |
| 28 | Louisiana profile | $29.89 | $62,170 | $45,240 | $71,850 | 390 | 0.20 | 0.67 |
| 29 | Ohio profile | $29.52 | $61,390 | $61,340 | $67,600 | 1,480 | 0.27 | 0.89 |
| 30 | Wisconsin profile | $28.70 | $59,690 | $50,540 | $74,500 | 630 | 0.22 | 0.72 |
| 31 | North Carolina profile | $28.33 | $58,930 | $52,040 | $92,220 | ** | ** | ** |
| 32 | West Virginia profile | $26.53 | $55,180 | $46,570 | $99,330 | 320 | 0.46 | 1.54 |
| 33 | Kentucky profile | $25.18 | $52,380 | $30,620 | $76,280 | 110 | 0.06 | 0.18 |
| – | Idaho profile | * | * | * | * | 270 | 0.31 | 1.05 |
Part of Transportation and Material Moving Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 53-4031 Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 53-4031, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 53-4031.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.