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Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

Transportation, Distribution and LogisticsO*NET 53-4031.00United States

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.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning
Median annual earnings
$78,000

50th percentile, United States

Projected change
+5.7%

2025 to 2035

Typical education
High school diploma or less

85.6% of the workforce

Employment
56.24K jobs

Growing to 59.46K by 2035

Explore this career by location

Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

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The work

What railroad conductors and yardmasters do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

  • 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.
  • Direct and instruct workers engaged in yard activities, such as switching tracks, coupling and uncoupling cars, and routing inbound and outbound traffic.
  • 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.
  • Operate controls to activate track switches and traffic signals.
  • Receive instructions from dispatchers regarding trains' routes, timetables, and cargoes.
  • Arrange for the removal of defective cars from trains at stations or stops.
  • Direct engineers to move cars to fit planned train configurations, combining or separating cars to make up or break up trains.
  • Inspect each car periodically during runs.
  • Review schedules, switching orders, way bills, and shipping records to obtain cargo loading and unloading information and to plan work.
  • Confirm routes and destination information for freight cars.
  • Verify accuracy of timekeeping instruments with engineers to ensure trains depart on time.
  • Document and prepare reports of accidents, unscheduled stops, or delays.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile
$58,739
25th percentile
$65,603
50th percentile
$78,000
75th percentile
$83,824
90th percentile
$109,782

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $78,000 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+5.7%average or slower
202556,243 jobs
2035 projected59,461 jobs

3,218 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less
85.6%
Certificate
8.4%
Associate degree
6%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

  • Lifting Ability
  • Network Switches
  • Brakes
  • Licensing
  • Hand Signals
  • Vehicle Coupling And Uncoupling
  • Heavy Equipment
  • Locomotive Engineering
  • Good Driving Record
  • Loading And Unloading
  • Visual Acuity
  • Suspension (Vehicle)
  • Coupling
  • Safety Procedures
  • Rail Safety
  • Mowing
  • Air Brakes
  • Equipment Inspection
  • Locomotive
  • On-The-Job Training

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Management of Personnel Resources
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Persuasion
Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Systems Analysis
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Systems Evaluation
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

  1. 01Conductors1,035 postings
  2. 02Train Conductors545 postings
  3. 03Flaggers214 postings
  4. 04Freight Conductors166 postings
  5. 05Train Crews158 postings
  6. 06Conductors/Engineers132 postings
  7. 07Electrical Apprentices52 postings
  8. 08Primary Trainers35 postings
  9. 09Railroad Safety Inspectors32 postings
  10. 10Directors of Student Conduct31 postings
  11. 11Trainmasters31 postings
  12. 12Design Apprentices29 postings
  13. 13Railroad Conductors22 postings
  14. 14Engineers21 postings
  15. 15Transportation Coordinators17 postings
  16. 16Transportation Equipment Operators16 postings
  17. 17Boat Operators12 postings
  18. 18Locomotive Engineers/Conductors12 postings
  19. 19Railroad Engineers12 postings
  20. 20Employee Trainers10 postings

Top employers

  1. 01Norfolk Southern307 postings
  2. 02National Railroad Safety Services, Inc. (Nrss)209 postings
  3. 03BNSF Railway180 postings
  4. 04CSX146 postings
  5. 05Comfama111 postings
  6. 06Watco108 postings
  7. 07Kansas City Southern105 postings
  8. 08Genesee & Wyoming102 postings
  9. 09Activos94 postings
  10. 10Union Pacific Railroad79 postings
  11. 11Amtrak77 postings
  12. 12Union Pacific71 postings
  13. 13Watco Companies63 postings
  14. 14Job Talent62 postings
  15. 15Soluciones Inmediatas43 postings
  16. 16Listos36 postings
  17. 17Railpros32 postings
  18. 18Patriot Rail Company23 postings
  19. 19Omnitrax20 postings
  20. 20Gi Group19 postings

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