How much can a train or railroad conductor earn per yer? A train conductor can earn a salary between $14,888 to $150,000+ per year.
However, the average salary for a train or railroad conductor at BNSF Railway for a railroad conductor is around $77,000/year, followed by Union Pacific with $73,000/year, AmTrak with $71,000/year and CSX Transportation $70,000/year.
A Train conductor salary will vary greatly depending on your experience and the company you work for. AmTrak, Union Pacific, BNSF Railway and CSX Transportation are some of top employers.
Train conductors are an essential part of the railroad operation. Let’s take a closer look at a train conductor salary, how much they can make by state/company and the geographic profile for this occupation.
As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, their direct involvement it’s critical for the entire rail transportation industry’s well-being.
Train Conductor, It’s Not Easy, But It’s Great!
If you have read the train conductor job description, I am sure you have realized that being a conductor it’s not as easy as many people think.
Many conductors and railroad workers in general, have to work on a flexible schedule, which require you to be ready for a shift anytime.
This can make it quite tough especially if you have a family. Of course, the career will have many advantages as well, great pay and benefits are expected, especially from a Class I railroad.This all translates to happiness and enjoyment & good financial stability for your household which it’s very important.
What Qualifications Do I Need?
Generally to become a railroad conductor you will need to have a highschool diploma and successful completion of on the job training. On the job training will differ from each employer and is worth looking into before you apply.
What Companies Are the Largest Employees Of Railroad Conductors In The U.S?
Class I railroads employee the most number of conductors. These include: Amtrak, BNSF Railway, Union Pacific, Canadian National Railway Company, Canadian Pacific CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway Company, Union Pacific Railroad, Kansas City Southern Railway Company, and Missouri Pacific Railroad.
Combined, these companies operate over 20,000 locomotives and employ over 230,000 railroad workers! Of these workers as of May 2019, over 45,700 are railroad conductors and yardmasters.
Most of the train conductors and yardmasters are employed in New York followed by Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, California, Ohio and Indiana.
Train Conductor Salary – Highest & Lowest Paying States
The top paying salaries for train conductors and yardmasters are in Wyoming. The average pay of around $77,080, which is $3,700 over what a conductors or a yardmaster makes in California
I think it will be useful to you having the entire railroad conductor and yardmaster salary list presented in a table. I have compiled this table with data I found at BLS.gov.The salaries are sorted descending, started with the highest paid state to the lowest one.
Being a train conductor and earning a train conductor can be both rewarding and hard at times. But from my experience it is absolutely worth it and one of the best jobs in the world!
As you see, there is an approximately $35,000 difference in how much a train conductor / yardmaster makes in the Wyoming vs. New Hampshire.
The salary of a train conductor is mostly determined under union contract and it will fluctuate depending on your location, the railroad you choose to work for and your experience. Same applies for a yardmaster salary.
Let’s take a quick look at BNSF Railway, Union Pacific Railroad and CSX Transportation freight train conductor salary as well as the passenger train conductor salary at AmTrak.
Train Conductor Salary – BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway has a long history and well deserved spot in the railroad industry. They operate one of the largest railroad companies in the world. With over 40,000 workers they help power, feed and clothe millions of Americans daily. As of today they operate in 28 states in the United States and three Canadian provinces, on over 32,500 miles of track.
As you can expect, BNSF Railway offers a great salary for a train conductor, as well as benefits and retirement plans. You can take a look here for a detailed benefits list. Note, the benefits might differ for each occupation.
So how much does a train conductor at BNSF make per hour?
The average hourly rate for a conductor at BNSF is about $38 – $40, of course as I mentioned above, the salary fluctuates by state and your experience. For a more accurate number, please contact the railroad with the specific details of your situation.
..and how much does a train conductor at BNSF make per year?I took the data from two sources, GlassDoor.com and PayScale.comAccording to GlassDoor.com, an average BNSF Railway train conductor salary would be $75,000/year. PayScale.com says that the average salary is $90,000, ranging from $65,000 to $120,000.
Check out BNSF Railroad jobs HERE
Train Conductor Salary – Union Pacific
Union Pacific is serving customers and communities for over 155 years. It was founded on July 1, 1862 when President Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway ACT. They hire over 37,000 people and they as well offer great pay and benefits.
According to their website they offer benefits like Wellness Program, Health Programs, Retirement and Financial Planning and more.
So how much does a train conductor at Union Pacific make per hour?The average hourly pay for a conductor at Union Pacific is between $35-$39, depending on your Union agreement, location and experience.
..and how much does a train conductor at Union Pacific make per year?According to GlassDoor.com, an averageUnion Pacific railroad conductor salary would be $70,000/year, the website PayScale.com mentions that a conductor is expected to earn between $40,000 and $101,000 working for Union Pacific.
Check out Union Pacific Railroad job HERE
Train Conductor Salary – AmTrak
AmTrak has operated since May 1st, 1971. The railroad operates passenger cars, they’re employing over 20,000 people and have a revenue of $3.4 billion dollars. Over 85,000 people take a ride in over 300 trains daily.The train conductor salary at AmTrak will be lower than the ones found working for the freight railroads. Mostly because of the job duties, which first, doesn’t require you to be outside, heavy-lifting, as much as working for a freight railroad. Even so, AmTrak offers great benefits for their conductors, and a salary that might be considered competitive.
So how much does a train conductor at AmTrak make per hour?The average hourly rate for a conductor at AmTrak is between $27-$38, depending on the location and your experience.
..and how much does a train conductor at AmTrak make per year?According to GlassDoor.com, an average AmTrak train conductor salary would be between $60,000 – $72,000/year.
Train Conductor Salary – CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation serves 23 states and is employing over 24,000 people. According to their website, about 3,700 veterans, first responders, active duty military are working or they worked for CSX Transportation.They as well, provide a competitive salary and a great list of benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, parental leave etc. For a complete list of benefits visit this link. Note, the benefits might differ depending of your occupation.
So how much does a train conductor at CSX Transportation make per hour?The average hourly rate for a conductor at CSX Transportation is between $29 and $40, as well as for the other railroads, your potential salary will fluctuate. Please call the railroad directly, with your specific details, for a more accurate number.According to GlassDoor, an average CSX Transportation train conductor salary would be between $65,000 -$90,000/year.
Check out CSX Transportation jobs HERE
Train Conductor Salary – MTA
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is the largest transportation network in North America, spread across 5,000 square-miles, serving New York City through Long Island, southeastern New York State and Connecticut. The MTA network has the largest subway and commuter rail cars than all other U.S transit systems combined.
How much does an MTA train conductor make?
A railway conductor working for MTA is expected to perform the same duties as any conductor. The MTA train conductor salary ranges between $60,000-$90,000/year plus benefits like health, vision and dental insurance with next to nothing deductible and a great pension plan.One of the pros of working as a conductor for MTA is that most of the work will be inside, compared to a freight conductor that has to perform duties outside.
Train Conductor Salary Conclusion
How much does a train conductor make?
The average salary at BNSF Railway for a railroad conductor it’s around $77,000/year, followed by Union Pacific with $73,000/year, AmTrak with $71,000/year and CSX Transportation $70,000/year.
Smaller private companies can also offer very competitive packages, it is about shopping around and investigating the best opportunity.
Most railroad companies offer competitive benefit packages which may include paid time off such as sick days, life insurance,health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, retirement benefits, childcare benefits, long/short term disability insurance and more.
With no better way to transport goods and people over land, the industry is enjoying steady growth & therefore job opportunities. I hope you enjoy a long, prosperous railroad career and get a great train conductor salary.
Have you ever thought of using Railroad Ties in your garden? Check out this Buying Guide
FAQs
What's the top pay for a train Conductor? ›
Salary Ranges for Train Conductors
The middle 57% of Train Conductors makes between $66,837 and $168,912, with the top 86% making $373,999.
While being a conductor provides a good living and a great retirement plan, it's incredibly demanding.
What is the best railroad company to work for? ›...
The Benefits of Being an Employee
- Life and disability insurance.
- Medical and prescription insurance.
- Vision and dental insurance.
At present a Conductor gets a small commission on any tickets sold ( 5% ).
Do train conductors sleep on the train? ›Two decades after federal officials identified fatigue as a top safety concern, the problem continues to haunt the railroad industry, especially the largest carriers responsible for moving the vast majority of the nation's rail-borne freight. “Engineers and conductors sleep on trains.
What are the duties of a train conductor? ›As a train crew member, a conductor travels to various locations with the train, ensuring the safe arrival of cargo to its destination. Responsibilities include switching cars, making or splitting up trains in yards, or moving cars between yards, sidings or tracks. Conductors keep CP and North America's economy moving.
Where do train conductors go to the bathroom? ›As far as having to run to the "bathroom" you simply go to the other unit (locomotive behind the leader) and do your business. Like Dutch said, if your the Hogger (engineer) you are stuck until you bring 'er to a stop. FRA rule as well as the company rule. You never want to do your business in the leader.
Do train conductors spend a lot of time away from home? ›This is especially true for conductors who spend, on average, 89 days away from home each year. Freight railroad management is reimagining the conductor's role. Instead of being stationed within the locomotive cab, conductors can be staged at various locations within a region where they are most needed.
Is it worth being a railroad conductor? ›You can get paid anywhere from $13,000 to $375,000 a year as a train conductor. The median salary for a train conductor in the U.S is around $66,000. There is certainly a lot of upside in this career because you can become a six-figure earner with relative ease.
What railroad Does Bill Gates Own? ›Bill Gates Gives $5 Billion of Canadian National Stock to Foundation >CNI. Bill Gates has given more than $5 billion worth of Canadian National Railway Co. stock to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as part of the Microsoft Corp.
How long does it take to become a train engineer? ›
It takes 2 to 3 months of on-job training to become a train engineer. If you prefer taking a course, you can take a certificate program that takes a few months to complete or an associate's degree program that takes 2 years. However, a high school diploma is a minimum requirement to become a train engineer.
How many Class 2 railroads are there? ›Class II railroads are much smaller than Class I railroads, and are often referred to as Regional Railroads. Currently there are about 15 Class II (Regional) railroads that are still in service in the United States.
How much do train cleaners get paid? ›Along with a salary of 10.52 - 18.93 per hour, you will also...
How much is a train driver paid? ›As of Sep 25, 2022, the average hourly pay for a Train Driver in the United States is $23.95 an hour.
How many conductors are on a train? ›Most freight trains on most railroads today have a crew of two: one engineer and one conductor.
Can train conductors listen to music? ›Freight train conductors can't listen to music, books on tape, or do anything else that could potentially help them stay awake. Each freight train has two crew members, a conductor and an engineer.
How often do train conductors travel? ›Conductors are paid every 2 weeks. Depending on your specific hire date and where it falls within the normal payroll cycle, your first paycheck may not arrive until your third week of employment. You will be regularly paid every two weeks on Friday.
Does a train engine have a bathroom? ›There are no restrooms in railway engines, and there is no passage that leads to the long line of coaches it is attached to.
What does a train conductor wear? ›Today most engineers and freight conductors dress in practical clothing with very little uniformity. They may wear a baseball-style cap with their railroad logo on it and steel toe boots, but shirts and pants are left up to the wearer.
What is a train conductor's schedule like? ›Train conductors often work 40 hours a week. Both cargo and passenger trains run at all hours, requiring evening, night, weekend and holiday shifts. Pay adjustments for these periods vary depending on the employer.
What skills does a train conductor need? ›
- customer service skills.
- excellent verbal communication skills.
- knowledge of transport methods, costs and benefits.
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail.
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
- knowledge of public safety and security.
- the ability to work on your own.
The alerter works in tandem with positive train control, or PTC, which uses a series of transponders along the tracks to communicate speed and other data to a train's computer. If the train is traveling too fast for conditions, the PTC system can automatically slow it down.
Do train conductors have breaks? ›Freight trains and passenger trains do have emergency brakes. These are typically controlled by the engineer.
How many gallons of fuel does a train engine hold? ›Typically, a locomotive has a fuel capacity of 4,000 gallons of fuel and will be fueled twice per week.
Can a woman be a train conductor? ›They might work in a car shop or fix locomotives. It gives women a sense of the working conditions in the field and a greater understanding of the railroad as a whole. Kelly Levis, who now is vice president of CN's industrial products unit, went through conductor training and gained certification as a conductor.
Who makes more conductor or Engineer? ›Re: Engineer vs Conductor pay
Depends on the run. Engineer usualy makes about $20 more unless its a weekend and then they get weekend extra $45 where I work. We have a few jobs that pay equal base pay for the En and Co.
Strong Union
Train drivers have a very strong union. When a union is strong, the pay that the workers get is usually a bit better. Unions help to ensure a group of people who are working in the same trade have access to fair benefits and fair pay.
As a newly hired Train Crew trainee, you can expect to earn about $52,000 a year. As you advance to Conductor and Locomotive Engineer positions, you can earn up to $88,000 a year or more. A Train Crew employee is paid on a trip rate for a yard, local, or thru freight assignment.
Is it hard to get fired from the railroad? ›It's pretty easy to get fired working on the railroad—especially if you're careless.
Is working for the railroad stressful? ›Railway workers may be exposed to high levels of stress because they are assigned to shift work, seasonal work, and distant long road work and factory and studio workers are assigned to hazardous and very hazardous work.
What is the oldest railroad company in the United States? ›
1832: The Strasburg Railroad in Pennsylvania is founded. It is still in business today and is the oldest continuously operated railroad in the country. 1833: Andrew Jackson travels from Baltimore to Ellicott's Mills, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to ride the rails.
What's the biggest railroad company? ›The largest rail company in the world is Deutsche Bahn, with a revenue of $47.72 billion. As of 2021, the global rail industry has a market size of $295.80 billion. There are over 807,000 miles of railroad networks around the world. The global rail industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.4% through 2026.
Who owns most of the railroads? ›...
Who owns the railroads.
BNSF Locomotives. We have one of the newest locomotive fleets in the industry. A typical BNSF locomotive will travel up to 4.8 million miles in its lifetime - equal to about 20 trips from the earth to the moon.
How long can a train engineer drive? ›Depending on the terrain and location you are stationed, your trip can range from 2-3 hours to all 12 hours, which is the longest shift that the FRA (Federal railroad administration) will allow a crew to stay on duty and active.
What degree do train engineers have? ›To become a railroad engineer, you will need a high school diploma or equivalent and 1-3 months of on the job training with specialized equipment, classroom instruction and periodic continuing education and training. You must receive railroad engineer certification from the Federal Railroad Administration.
What is the largest Class 1 railroad? ›Founded in 1862, Union Pacific (UP) has been providing train transportation for 156 years. It's the largest railroad in North America, operating 51,683 miles in 23 states.
What are the 8 major railroads in the US? ›This is an interactive map of the major freight railroads, also known as class I railroads in the United States. They include CSX, Norfolk Southern (NS), Burlington Northern and Santa Fe (BNSF), Union Pacific (UP), Canadian Pacific (CP), Canadian National Railway (CN), and the Kansas City Southern (KCS).
What class railroad is Amtrak? ›Current Class I railroads
Today there are just five American owned Class I freight railroad companies and one passenger railroad company (Amtrak). The list also include two Canadian owned Class I freight railroads, both of which have trackage in the US.
Ticketing Counter Staff salary in India ranges between ₹ 0.2 Lakhs to ₹ 3.7 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 1.9 Lakhs. Salary estimates are based on 98 salaries received from Ticketing Counter Staffs.
How much does a train cleaner get paid UK? ›
...
Train Cleaner Salaries.
| Job Title | Salary |
|---|---|
| NHS England Train Cleaner salaries - 2 salaries reported | £11/hr |
...
International comparisons.
| Average annual resources and mining salaries by country ($US) | |
|---|---|
| Norway | 158,700 |
| Australia | 137,100 |
| Canada | 101,800 |
| Germany | 99,100 |
| OCCUPATION | 2021 MEDIAN PAY |
|---|---|
| General internal medicine physicians | This wage is equal to or greater than $208,000 per year |
| Family medicine physicians | This wage is equal to or greater than $208,000 per year |
| Emergency medicine physicians | This wage is equal to or greater than $208,000 per year |
Shifts or "turns" generally range from around 6 hours to around 11 hours and vary from company to company. Some companies operate their turns over a 4 day working week. Days where you are not required for duty are called rest days (RD).
Do train conductors sleep? ›Two decades after federal officials identified fatigue as a top safety concern, the problem continues to haunt the railroad industry, especially the largest carriers responsible for moving the vast majority of the nation's rail-borne freight. “Engineers and conductors sleep on trains.
Is a train conductor a hard job? ›Being a conductor takes over your life
While being a conductor provides a good living and a great retirement plan, it's incredibly demanding.
16.4% of all train conductors are women, while 83.6% are men. The average age of an employed train conductor is 41 years old. The most common ethnicity of train conductors is White (73.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (13.0%) and Black or African American (10.1%). In 2021, women earned 88% of what men earned.
How much do train cleaners get paid? ›Along with a salary of 10.52 - 18.93 per hour, you will also...
How much is a train driver paid? ›As of Sep 25, 2022, the average hourly pay for a Train Driver in the United States is $23.95 an hour.
What is the salary of train manager? ›The national average salary for a Train Manager is ₹4,95,776 in India.
What is the salary of train guard? ›
The national average salary for a Railway Train Guard is ₹35,479 in India.
How much does a train cleaner get paid UK? ›...
Train Cleaner Salaries.
| Job Title | Salary |
|---|---|
| NHS England Train Cleaner salaries - 2 salaries reported | £11/hr |
...
International comparisons.
| Average annual resources and mining salaries by country ($US) | |
|---|---|
| Norway | 158,700 |
| Australia | 137,100 |
| Canada | 101,800 |
| Germany | 99,100 |
There is no doubt that being a train driver is a risky job. Therefore, if you can make it to the level of a train driver, and you can hold on and stay employed, you will make extra money. Because so many people can't cut it as a train driver, companies tend to pay quite a bit more money to those who can.
What is the highest paying job? ›| OCCUPATION | 2021 MEDIAN PAY |
|---|---|
| General internal medicine physicians | This wage is equal to or greater than $208,000 per year |
| Family medicine physicians | This wage is equal to or greater than $208,000 per year |
| Emergency medicine physicians | This wage is equal to or greater than $208,000 per year |
Senior Manager salary in Indian Railways ranges between ₹ 8.1 Lakhs to ₹ 10.4 Lakhs.
What is the salary of railway station master? ›Average Indian Railways Station Master salary in India is ₹ 5.8 Lakhs per year for employees with experience between 2 years to 15 years. Station Master salary at Indian Railways ranges between ₹ 0.6 Lakhs to ₹ 7.3 Lakhs per year.
What is the salary goods guard after 5 years? ›...
Railway Good Guard Salary as per 7th Pay commission.
| I. | Basic Pay | Rs. 29,200/- |
|---|---|---|
| V. | HRA ( Varies according to Place – Minimum 8 % of basic ) | 2336/- |
Pension- It is calculated at 50% of average emoluments in all cases where the employee has 33 years of qualifying service, subject to a maximum of Rs. 45,000/- per month. Pension is worked out proportionately, if the qualifying service is less than 33 years.
What is the highest salary of goods guard? ›The highest salary for a Goods Guard in India is ₹77,869 per month.
What is the highest post in railways? ›
At the apex level of the Ministry of Railways, Member Staff is the highest level post, who is ex-officio Secretary to Government of India.