Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster Careers

railroad-conductor-500A railroad conductor oversees and coordinates the activities of a rail crew either on a freight or passenger train.

A yardmaster is responsible for overseeing all the tasks in the train yard including creating train schedules and overseeing the responsibilities of the workers assigned to railroad traffic operations.

Trains operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Freight train (trains that transport goods i.e. supplies, cars, food) conductors and yardmasters work irregular schedules. They can work weekends, nights and holidays often more than 40 hours a week. Railroad conductors on passenger trains tend to work more regular office hours.

Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster Career Snapshot

Further details on a career as a railroad conductor and yardmaster are listed below (statistics from the May 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):

$55,930

is the average yearly salary for railroad conductors and yardmasters.

-2%

decrease in employment between 2014 and 2024.

86%

have a High school diploma or equivalent; 8% have a Post-secondary certificate.

Railroad Conductor/Yardmaster Education

All railroad conductors and yardmasters must have a high school diploma. Depending on the rail company, some community college or hands-on training usually lasting 1-3 months is required. Passenger railroad companies like Amtrak have their own training program for staff.

Railroad Conductor/Yardmaster Job Duties

On passenger trains, railroad conductors verify and sell passenger tickets, take care of unruly passengers and ensure the safety of passengers while on-board. On freight trains they supervise the loading and unloading of cargo and coordinate the activities of the entire train crew.

Yardmasters do not travel on trains but have similar responsibilities as conductors. They review train schedules, shipping records and switching orders of freight trains. They break-up or assemble train cars according to the schedule and ensure the efficient operation of inbound and outbound trains on tracks.

Railroad Conductor/Yardmaster Salaries

As of May 2015, according to BLS.gov, the average salary for a railroad conductor and yardmaster was $55,930. Some conductors or yardmasters are paid hourly and not offered benefits. While others are paid according to the number of miles traveled rather than hours worked. Most railroad employees including yardmasters and railroad conductors are part of a union.

Railroad Conductor/Yardmaster Job Outlook

The job forecast for railroad conductors and yardmasters is expected to decline at a rate of 2% between 2014-2024. The demand for rail transportation may grow. But rail companies are becoming more efficient such as running longer trains or stacking rail cars one on top of the other. This means less work for railroad conductors and yardmasters.

Related Careers

If being a railroad conductor doesn’t seem like a good fit for you, we’ve gathered up a few related careers below:

Captains of Water Vessels

Post-Secondary Degree

What Do Related Careers Pay?

Railroad conductors typically earn significantly more than flight attendants and heavy truck drivers. Check-out the chart below to compare: