How much does a railroad worker make?
a year · about $27 an hour
A typical railroad worker in the United States makes $56,360 a year, about $27 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
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.
Did you know? Some rail-yard workers use remote locomotive technology to move freight cars around the yard.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $40,080 and $83,190How do you become one?
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.
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.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Washington ($86,650), lowest in Texas ($43,150).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| 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 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $86,650 | about 90 |
| Georgia | $78,500 | about 50 |
| California | $60,360 | about 230 |
| Tennessee | $48,660 | about 110 |
| Texas | $43,150 | about 120 |
Official definition: All rail transportation workers not listed separately.
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