Rail Transportation Workers

How to become a Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster

Official title: Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

Also called: Conductor, Freight Conductor, Freight Train Conductor, Local Freight Conductor, Railroad Conductor, Railway Yardmaster, Thru Freight Conductor, Train Master, Trainman, Yardmaster

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.

Main 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.

How to become one

Railroad workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and several months of on-the-job training.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Railroad Conductor.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $78,000 a year The middle half earn $65,610 to $83,820.
About 38,900 people work in this job now, and about 39,200 are projected by 2035. (+0.9%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster?

Railroad workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and several months of on-the-job training.

How much does a Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $78,000 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $65,610 to $83,820.

Is a Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 38,900 people now and 39,200 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster?

Usually not. Only 14% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Railroad Conductor.

Will AI change the work of a Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.