How much does a train conductor make?
a year · about $38 an hour
A typical train conductor in the United States makes $78,000 a year, about $38 an hour, about 1.5× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
On passenger trains, conductors check tickets and keep riders informed; on freight runs, they coordinate the crew and cargo. Yardmasters study schedules and direct crews as they sort cars into trains.
Did you know? Yardmasters may plan car order so tank cars carrying dangerous chemicals aren't lined up in a risky way.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $58,740 and $109,770How do you become one?
U.S. railroads generally require a high-school diploma or GED and train conductors and yardmasters on the job. Conductors must be at least 21, pass the railroad's FRA-approved test and hands-on training, and earn certification.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experience and skills, the railroad or kind of rail service, and location can all affect pay. Conductors may work irregular or long hours, and seniority usually affects which shifts they get, so schedules—and yearly earnings—can differ.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Pennsylvania ($83,610), lowest in Wisconsin ($59,690).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
In Japan, a train conductor averages $38,881. Train conductor salary in Japan
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $58,740 | $78,000 | $109,770 | about 46,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $83,610 | about 3,000 |
| Indiana | $81,260 | about 2,000 |
| New York | $80,000 | about 7,000 |
| Virginia | $79,900 | about 900 |
| Illinois | $79,820 | about 3,000 |
Official definition: 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. Yardmasters review train schedules and switching orders and coordinate activities of workers engaged in railroad traffic operations, such as the makeup or breakup of trains and yard switching.
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.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/53-4031.00
- www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-II/part-242/subpart-B/section-2
- www.ruready.nd.gov/Career_Planning/Career_Profile/Career_Profile.aspx?InsInfo=tr
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY