Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Job description

Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters 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.

• Signal engineers to begin train runs, stop trains, or change speed, using telecommunications equipment or hand signals.
• Confer with engineers regarding train routes, timetables, and cargoes, and to discuss alternative routes when there are rail defects or obstructions.
• Instruct workers to set warning signals in front and at rear of trains during emergency stops.
• Receive information regarding train or rail problems from dispatchers or from electronic monitoring devices.

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Salary

Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters with little to no experience tend to make between $44690 and $53490 while the more experienced ones can earn over $78640 per year.

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster is to move to a higher paying state like MD. Right now, the highest paying states for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters are MD, CA, MA, WY and NJ.

However, a higher pay at MD doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at MD might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.

Requirements

We asked other Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a High School Diploma followed by a Post-Secondary Certificate.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster.

What is the job like

48% of Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters said they were satisfied with their job and 39% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.

Is this right for me

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

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