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.
Also called: Conductor, Freight Conductor, Freight Train Conductor, Local Freight Conductor, Passenger Conductor, Pullman Conductor
Median pay
$78,000
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$58,740 – $109,770
People employed
46,440
Holland code
RCE
Realistic · Conventional · Enterprising
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 2.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 3.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 4.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 5.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
- 6.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 7.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 8.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
The hard parts
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
- Tight deadlines are common
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (33 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What railroad conductors and yardmasters do
- 01Observe yard traffic to determine tracks available to accommodate inbound and outbound traffic.
- 02Inspect freight cars for compliance with sealing procedures, and record car numbers and seal numbers.
- 03Receive instructions from dispatchers regarding trains' routes, timetables, and cargoes.
- 04Direct and instruct workers engaged in yard activities, such as switching tracks, coupling and uncoupling cars, and routing inbound and outbound traffic.
- 05Signal engineers to begin train runs, stop trains, or change speed, using telecommunications equipment or hand signals.
- 06Direct engineers to move cars to fit planned train configurations, combining or separating cars to make up or break up trains.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Public Safety and Security
- Transportation
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Law and Government
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Stress Tolerance
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 3 months, up to and including 6 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from railroad conductors and yardmasters
- Air Traffic Controllers79% · +90%
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors74% · −25%
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers73% · +37%
- Transit and Railroad Police73% · +16%
- Airfield Operations Specialists71% · −27%
Change into railroad conductors and yardmasters
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Airfield Operations Specialists84% · $56,850
- Bridge and Lock Tenders82% · $57,700
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors80% · $58,170
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance79% · $50,340
- Bus Drivers, School78% · $47,920
Majors that lead here
- Railroad and Railway Transportation
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.