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Skilled Trades

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.

Median salary (BLS)

$78,000

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$59k – $110k

Job outlook

+1% (about average)

AI exposure

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

    Entry / Junior

    $58,740

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

    Established

    $78,000

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

    Senior

    $93,885

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Signal engineers to begin train runs, stop trains, or change speed, using telecommunications equipment or hand signals.
  • •Confer with engineers regarding train routes, timetables, and cargoes, and to discuss alternative routes when there are rail defects or obstructions.
  • •Receive information regarding train or rail problems from dispatchers or from electronic monitoring devices.
  • •Receive instructions from dispatchers regarding trains' routes, timetables, and cargoes.
  • •Direct and instruct workers engaged in yard activities, such as switching tracks, coupling and uncoupling cars, and routing inbound and outbound traffic.

Fields of study

Any field

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.