How much does a railroad conductor and yardmaster make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $37.50 an hour or $6,500 a month.
- Hourly
- $37.50
- Average (mean)
- $79,100
- Jobs
- 46,440
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $58,740 | $28.24 | |
| 25th | $65,610 | $31.54 | |
| Median | $78,000 | $37.50 | |
| 75th | $83,820 | $40.30 | |
| 90th | $109,800 | $52.77 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Oklahoma | $102,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,610 |
| Maryland | $83,390 |
| Indiana | $81,260 |
| Delaware | $80,410 |
| New York | $80,000 |
| Virginia | $79,900 |
| Illinois | $79,820 |
| Florida | $79,600 |
| Washington | $79,040 |
| Michigan | $78,960 |
| Minnesota | $78,930 |
| Arizona | $78,080 |
| Mississippi | $78,010 |
| New Mexico | $77,890 |
| Colorado | $77,550 |
| Georgia | $75,810 |
| South Carolina | $73,660 |
| Tennessee | $71,740 |
| California | $69,950 |
| Texas | $68,980 |
| Kansas | $68,730 |
| Oregon | $68,580 |
| Wyoming | $68,430 |
| Missouri | $68,030 |
| Arkansas | $67,710 |
| South Dakota | $62,730 |
| Louisiana | $62,170 |
| Ohio | $61,390 |
| Wisconsin | $59,690 |
| North Carolina | $58,930 |
| West Virginia | $55,180 |
| Kentucky | $52,380 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Chicago, IL | $96,120 |
| Seattle, WA | $92,400 |
| New York, NY | $80,000 |
| Denver, CO | $59,790 |
| Houston, TX | $46,440 |
| Dallas, TX | $45,600 |
| Savannah, GA | $38,020 |
In other countries
Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster belongs to the international group "Railway brake, signal and switch operators".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Locomotive Engineer$81,410
- Rail Yard Engineer$60,600
- Railroad Brake$68,840
- Subway and Streetcar Operator$86,380
- Rail Transportation Worker$56,360
Frequently asked questions
How much does a railroad conductor and yardmaster make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $37.50 ($78,000 a year).
How much does a railroad conductor and yardmaster make a month?
About $6,500 a month before tax, based on a median of $78,000 a year.
How much does a railroad conductor and yardmaster make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $58,740 or less a year ($28.24 an hour); the top 10% make $109,800 or more.
Which state pays railroad conductor and yardmasters the most?
Oklahoma, with a median of $102,300 a year, followed by Pennsylvania ($83,610) and Maryland ($83,390).
Which city pays railroad conductor and yardmasters the most?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, with a median of $96,120 a year.
How many railroad conductor and yardmasters are there in the United States?
About 46,440 people work as railroad conductor and yardmasters.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.