Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster Salary in New York, NY
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $80,000 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,387 take-home, or $5,116 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median railroad conductor and yardmaster salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,770
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,960
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,160
- New York income tax$3,723
- Take-home pay$61,387
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $2,666 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $58,721 ($4,893 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster pay by experience in New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,520 | $26.69 | $44,389 | $3,699 |
| 25th percentile | $65,610 | $31.54 | $51,952 | $4,329 |
| Median (50th) | $80,000 | $38.46 | $61,387 | $5,116 |
| 75th percentile | $80,000 | $38.46 | $61,387 | $5,116 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,000 | $38.46 | $61,387 | $5,116 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $80,000 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median railroad conductor and yardmaster's $61,387 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,536 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
New York, NY has 1.3× the national concentration of railroad conductor and yardmaster jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for railroad conductors and yardmasters, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #1 of 1 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $80,000 | $61,387 | $54,536 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 1 metros →
About the job: railroad conductors and yardmasters
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.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +0.9% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a railroad conductor and yardmaster make in New York, NY?
The median railroad conductor and yardmaster salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $80,000 a year, or about $38.46 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $65,610 and $80,000.
What is a railroad conductor and yardmaster’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $80,000 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $61,387 a year ($5,116 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,723 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a railroad conductor and yardmaster?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $78,000. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,536 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #1 of 1 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a railroad conductor and yardmaster afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median railroad conductor and yardmaster’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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