How much does a railroad worker make?
Answer: A typical railroad worker in the United States makes $56,360 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 1,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Railroad worker pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,080 | $56,360 | $83,190 | about 1,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can differ with experience, the kind of railroad job, and special training or certification. Employer, location, and night, weekend, or overtime hours can also affect earnings.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a railroad worker do?
All rail transportation workers not listed separately.
What's a typical day like?
A railroad worker may check equipment and report problems, then stay in contact with crews and dispatchers as trains move through a yard. The work often happens outdoors, and shifts may include nights or weekends.
How to get this job
In the United States, finish high school or an equivalent and apply to a railroad; most workers get several months of on-the-job training. Railroad workers must be at least 21; engineers and conductors also need Federal Railroad Administration certification.
Did you know?
Some rail-yard workers use remote locomotive technology to move freight cars around the yard.
Earn more in the same field
Transportation and Material Moving jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/OOH/transportation-and-material-moving/railroad-occupations.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/53-4099.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2025/may/oes534099.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY