Transportation and material moving
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.
Median pay
$78,000
Growth to 2035
+1%
little or no change
Openings a year
3,000
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Railroad conductors and yardmasters
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to railroad conductors and yardmasters
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Railroad conductors and yardmasters: 67% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Observe yard traffic to determine tracks available to accommodate inbound and outbound traffic.
- Receive instructions from dispatchers regarding trains' routes, timetables, and cargoes.
- Direct and instruct workers engaged in yard activities, such as switching tracks, coupling and uncoupling cars, and routing inbound and outbound traffic.
- Signal engineers to begin train runs, stop trains, or change speed, using telecommunications equipment or hand signals.
- Direct engineers to move cars to fit planned train configurations, combining or separating cars to make up or break up trains.
- Confirm routes and destination information for freight cars.
- Arrange for the removal of defective cars from trains at stations or stops.
- Review schedules, switching orders, way bills, and shipping records to obtain cargo loading and unloading information and to plan work.
Also called: Conductor · Freight Conductor · Freight Train Conductor · Local Freight Conductor · Railroad Conductor · Railway Yardmaster · Thru Freight Conductor · Train Master
Outlook and AI
Railroad conductors and yardmasters held 38,900 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 39,200 by 2035 (+1%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
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