Jobs Similar to Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to railroad conductors and yardmasters, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Airfield Operations Specialists, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers and Transportation Inspectors.
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters: $78,000 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airfield Operations Specialists | 80% | $56,850−27% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 79% | $232,140+198% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Transportation Inspectors | 77% | $92,100+18% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Air Traffic Controllers | 77% | $148,080+90% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | 76% | $58,170−25% | High school |
| 6 | Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive FirersSame group | 76% | $68,840−12% | High school |
| 7 | Aircraft Service Attendants | 76% | $40,450−48% | High school |
| 8 | Bridge and Lock Tenders | 75% | $57,700−26% | High school |
| 9 | Power Distributors and Dispatchers | 74% | $106,730+37% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Police Identification and Records Officers | 74% | $93,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 11 | Commercial Pilots | 74% | $123,220+58% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Transit and Railroad Police | 74% | $90,230+16% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Couriers and Messengers | 74% | $39,200−50% | High school |
| 14 | Transportation Security Screeners | 74% | $66,770−14% | High school |
| 15 | Fish and Game Wardens | 73% | $74,060−5% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Agricultural Inspectors | 73% | $49,940−36% | High school |
| 17 | Locomotive EngineersSame group | 73% | $81,410+4% | High school |
| 18 | Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists | 73% | $56,870−27% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | 72% | $58,470−25% | High school |
| 20 | Forest and Conservation Technicians | 72% | $54,560−30% | Training or associate |
- 1Airfield Operations Specialists
80% similar · $56,850 (−27%) · Training or associate
- 2Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
79% similar · $232,140 (+198%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Transportation Inspectors
77% similar · $92,100 (+18%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Air Traffic Controllers
77% similar · $148,080 (+90%) · Training or associate
- 5Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
76% similar · $58,170 (−25%) · High school
- 6Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
76% similar · $68,840 (−12%) · High school · Same group
- 7Aircraft Service Attendants
76% similar · $40,450 (−48%) · High school
- 8Bridge and Lock Tenders
75% similar · $57,700 (−26%) · High school
- 9Power Distributors and Dispatchers
74% similar · $106,730 (+37%) · Training or associate
- 10Police Identification and Records Officers
74% similar · $93,790 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 11Commercial Pilots
74% similar · $123,220 (+58%) · Training or associate
- 12Transit and Railroad Police
74% similar · $90,230 (+16%) · Training or associate
- 13Couriers and Messengers
74% similar · $39,200 (−50%) · High school
- 14Transportation Security Screeners
74% similar · $66,770 (−14%) · High school
- 15Fish and Game Wardens
73% similar · $74,060 (−5%) · Training or associate
- 16Agricultural Inspectors
73% similar · $49,940 (−36%) · High school
- 17Locomotive Engineers
73% similar · $81,410 (+4%) · High school · Same group
- 18Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
73% similar · $56,870 (−27%) · Training or associate
- 19Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators
72% similar · $58,470 (−25%) · High school
- 20Forest and Conservation Technicians
72% similar · $54,560 (−30%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than railroad conductors and yardmasters.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for railroad conductors and yardmasters also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where railroad conductors and yardmasters is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Airfield Operations Specialists (84)
- Bridge and Lock Tenders (82)
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors (80)
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance (79)
- Bus Drivers, School (78)
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity (78)
- Couriers and Messengers (78)
- Transportation Security Screeners (78)
- Light Truck Drivers (77)
- Parking Enforcement Workers (77)
Questions about jobs like railroad conductors and yardmasters
What jobs are most similar to railroad conductors and yardmasters?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Airfield Operations Specialists (80% similar), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (79% similar), Transportation Inspectors (77% similar), Air Traffic Controllers (77% similar) and Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors (76% similar).
Which jobs like railroad conductors and yardmasters pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($232,140, +198%; usually a bachelor's degree), Air Traffic Controllers ($148,080, +90%; usually training or an associate degree) and Commercial Pilots ($123,220, +58%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with railroad conductors and yardmasters ($78,000). Without more preparation than railroad conductors and yardmasters usually need: Locomotive Engineers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.