Transportation & Logistics
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
Also called: Conductor, Freight Conductor, Freight Train Conductor, Local Freight Conductor
US median pay
$78,000
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+0.9%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
3,000
38,900 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Receive information regarding train or rail problems from dispatchers or from electronic monitoring devices.
- Operate controls to activate track switches and traffic signals.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Coordination3.8/5
- Time Management3.5/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.5/5
- Operations Monitoring3.4/5
- Operation and Control3.2/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.2/5
- Systems Evaluation3.0/5
- Systems Analysis3.0/5
Knowledge
- Public Safety and Security4.0/5
- Transportation4.0/5
- English Language3.5/5
- Education and Training3.1/5
- Law and Government3.0/5
- Customer and Personal Service2.9/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma86%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.