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Overview for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

SOC Code: 53-4031
Star Rating:

  • Career Cluster

    Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

  • Career Pathway

    • Transportation Operations

Occupation Description

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.

Annual Wages

Created with Highcharts 11.4.0$64,870 - Annual Median Wage$62.5K
  • 10th Percentile $64760
  • 25th Percentile $64760
  • Median $64870
  • 75th Percentile $64930
  • 90th Percentile $64930

Best Job Matches With Shared Skills

Occupation Average Wage Typical Entry Level Education Current Openings
Occupation
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
Bargraph indicating percent
100%
Average Wage
$64,860/year
$31.19/hour
Typical Entry Level Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Current Openings
6
Occupation
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
Bargraph indicating percent
63%
Average Wage
$60,890/year
$29.27/hour
Typical Entry Level Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Current Openings
2
Occupation
Locomotive Engineers
Bargraph indicating percent
63%
Average Wage
$75,920/year
$36.50/hour
Typical Entry Level Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Current Openings
0
Occupation
Airfield Operations Specialists
Bargraph indicating percent
59%
Average Wage
$49,570/year
$23.83/hour
Typical Entry Level Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Current Openings
5
Occupation
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
Bargraph indicating percent
59%
Average Wage
$42,800/year
$20.58/hour
Typical Entry Level Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Current Openings
225

Current Openings by County

Click on a county below to find openings are available near you.
0% 
1-20% 
21-40% 
41-60% 
61-80% 
81-100% 
Fewest Open Jobs Most Open Jobs
Adams county has 0 open job(s) Ashland county has 0 open job(s) Barron county has 0 open job(s) Bayfield county has 0 open job(s) Brown county has 0 open job(s) Buffalo county has 0 open job(s) Burnett county has 0 open job(s) Calumet county has 0 open job(s) Chippewa county has 0 open job(s) Clark county has 0 open job(s) Columbia county has 0 open job(s) Crawford county has 0 open job(s) Dane county has 0 open job(s) Dodge county has 3 open job(s) Door county has 0 open job(s) Douglas county has 0 open job(s) Dunn county has 0 open job(s) Eau Claire county has 0 open job(s) Florence county has 0 open job(s) Fond du Lac county has 0 open job(s) Forest county has 0 open job(s) Grant county has 0 open job(s) Green county has 0 open job(s) Green Lake county has 0 open job(s) Iowa county has 0 open job(s) Iron county has 0 open job(s) Jackson county has 0 open job(s) Jefferson county has 0 open job(s) Juneau county has 0 open job(s) Kenosha county has 0 open job(s) Kewaunee county has 0 open job(s) La Crosse county has 0 open job(s) Lafayette county has 0 open job(s) Langlade county has 0 open job(s) Lincoln county has 0 open job(s) Manitowoc county has 0 open job(s) Marathon county has 0 open job(s) Marinette county has 0 open job(s) Marquette county has 0 open job(s) Menominee county has 0 open job(s) Milwaukee county has 0 open job(s) Monroe county has 0 open job(s) Oconto county has 0 open job(s) Oneida county has 0 open job(s) Outagamie county has 0 open job(s) Ozaukee county has 0 open job(s) Pepin county has 0 open job(s) Pierce county has 0 open job(s) Polk county has 0 open job(s) Portage county has 0 open job(s) Price county has 0 open job(s) Racine county has 0 open job(s) Richland county has 0 open job(s) Rock county has 0 open job(s) Rusk county has 0 open job(s) Sauk county has 0 open job(s) Sawyer county has 0 open job(s) Shawano county has 0 open job(s) Sheboygan county has 0 open job(s) St. Croix county has 0 open job(s) Taylor county has 0 open job(s) Trempealeau county has 0 open job(s) Vernon county has 0 open job(s) Vilas county has 0 open job(s) Washburn county has 0 open job(s) Walworth county has 0 open job(s) Washington county has 0 open job(s) Waukesha county has 0 open job(s) Waupaca county has 0 open job(s) Waushara county has 0 open job(s) Winnebago county has 0 open job(s) Wood county has 0 open job(s)

Number of Jobs

Created with Highcharts 11.4.0Number of JobsBase-Year 2022Projected-Year 20320100200300400500600Highcharts.com
Average Annual
  • Job Growth -.96%
  • Job Openings 34

5 Most Recent Job Openings

Student Freight Conductor
Railroad Safety Flagger UP North
Railroad Safety Flagger BNSF North
Railroad Safety Flagger UP North
View All Open Jobs

Common Job Titles

  • Centralized Traffic Control Operator (CTC Operator)
  • Conductor and Engineer
  • Railroad Conductor
  • Engine Supervisor
  • Car Dispatcher

Typical Tasks

  • 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.
  • Instruct workers to set warning signals in front and at rear of trains during emergency stops.
  • 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.
  • Operate controls to activate track switches and traffic signals.
  • Keep records of the contents and destination of each train car, and make sure that cars are added or removed at proper points on routes.
  • Observe yard traffic to determine tracks available to accommodate inbound and outbound traffic.
  • Arrange for the removal of defective cars from trains at stations or stops.