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
$74,080
Typical range
$53k – $103k
Job outlook
+1% (about average)
AI exposure
Plan a path to Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
Education
Typical entry: No degree required
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
Entry / Junior
$53,490
~2 yrs to advance
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
Established
$74,080
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
Senior
$88,715
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
Top colleges for Skilled Trades
Explore all- Purdue University50% admit · $78,000 grad pay
- Ohio State University53% admit · $68,000 grad pay
- Pennsylvania State University55% admit · $70,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.