Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster Salary
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters earn a median $78,000 a year nationally. Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
U.S. median
$78,000
$37.50 per hour
Range
$58,740 – $109,770
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
46,440
across the U.S.
Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$63,703
per year · effective tax rate 18.3%
$5,309Monthly
$2,654Twice a month
$2,450Every 2 weeks
$30.63Hourly
- Federal income tax$8,330
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,836
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,131
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$63,703
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,740 | $28.24 | $49,378 |
| 25th percentile | $65,610 | $31.54 | $54,898 |
| Median (50th) | $78,000 | $37.50 | $63,703 |
| 75th percentile | $83,820 | $40.30 | $67,797 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $109,770 | $52.77 | $86,053 |
Best cities for railroad conductors and yardmasters (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $80,000 | $61,387 | $54,536 | 3,800 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $80,000
Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $102,260 | $76,714 | $51,360 – $128,140 | 310 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,610 | $65,083 | $58,990 – $83,870 | 2,750 |
| Maryland | $83,390 | $63,897 | $65,300 – $97,510 | 300 |
| Indiana | $81,260 | $63,629 | $64,240 – $96,820 | 1,720 |
| Delaware | $80,410 | $61,432 | $74,530 – $130,710 | — |
| New York | $80,000 | $61,387 | $65,610 – $109,770 | 6,980 |
| Virginia | $79,900 | $61,260 | $63,860 – $79,900 | 900 |
| Illinois | $79,820 | $61,177 | $63,290 – $134,440 | 2,790 |
| Florida | $79,600 | $64,829 | $50,430 – $121,460 | 760 |
| Washington | $79,040 | $64,435 | $63,880 – $120,630 | 810 |
| Michigan | $78,960 | $61,273 | $58,850 – $92,710 | 760 |
| Minnesota | $78,930 | $60,513 | $78,800 – $91,400 | 830 |
| Arizona | $78,080 | $62,016 | $62,930 – $121,330 | 460 |
| Mississippi | $78,010 | $61,322 | $49,030 – $137,590 | 440 |
| New Mexico | $77,890 | $61,130 | $64,890 – $77,890 | 400 |
| Colorado | $77,550 | $60,683 | $59,020 – $123,860 | 490 |
| Georgia | $75,810 | $58,851 | $46,450 – $126,950 | 1,740 |
| South Carolina | $73,660 | $57,387 | $73,660 – $73,660 | 420 |
| Tennessee | $71,740 | $59,299 | $47,220 – $92,980 | 790 |
| California | $69,950 | $54,747 | $69,230 – $113,680 | 1,500 |
| Texas | $68,980 | $57,357 | $45,680 – $79,400 | 4,640 |
| Kansas | $68,730 | $54,146 | $49,190 – $71,400 | 1,200 |
| Oregon | $68,580 | $51,905 | $59,160 – $77,160 | 390 |
| Wyoming | $68,430 | $56,971 | $68,430 – $107,560 | — |
| Missouri | $68,030 | $54,429 | $59,990 – $68,590 | 970 |
| Arkansas | $67,710 | $54,036 | $47,210 – $83,290 | 390 |
| South Dakota | $62,730 | $52,584 | $46,320 – $80,580 | 90 |
| Louisiana | $62,170 | $50,655 | $45,240 – $71,850 | 390 |
| Ohio | $61,390 | $50,601 | $61,340 – $67,600 | 1,480 |
| Wisconsin | $59,690 | $48,296 | $50,540 – $74,500 | 630 |
| North Carolina | $58,930 | $47,688 | $52,040 – $92,220 | — |
| West Virginia | $55,180 | $44,766 | $46,570 – $99,330 | 320 |
| Kentucky | $52,380 | $42,552 | $30,620 – $76,280 | 110 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a railroad conductor and yardmaster make?
The national median salary for railroad conductors and yardmasters is $78,000 a year ($37.50 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $58,740 and the top 10% earn over $109,770. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays railroad conductors and yardmasters the most?
Oklahoma has the highest median pay at $102,260. After taxes and local prices, New York, NY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many railroad conductors and yardmasters are there in the U.S.?
About 46,440 people work as railroad conductors and yardmasters nationwide.