What Do Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster Do?
Career Description 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.
Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster Responsibilities
- Inspect freight cars for compliance with sealing procedures and record car numbers and seal numbers.
- Direct and instruct workers engaged in yard activities, such as switching tracks, coupling and uncoupling cars, and routing inbound and outbound traffic.
- Document and prepare reports of accidents, unscheduled stops, or delays.
- Instruct workers to set warning signals in front and at rear of trains during emergency stops.
- Record departure and arrival times, messages, tickets and revenue collected, and passenger accommodations and destinations.
- Supervise and coordinate crew activities to transport freight and passengers and to provide boarding, porter, maid, and meal services to passengers.
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Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster Required Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters say are important on the job.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Related Job Titles
- Passenger Conductor
- Road Freight Conductor
- Traffic Control Operator
- Conductor/Brakeman
- Centralized Traffic Control Operator (CTC Operator)
Job Opportunities for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
There were about 41,800 jobs for Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster. There will be an estimated 3,700 positions for Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster per year.
The states with the most job growth for Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster are South Carolina, Texas, and Nebraska. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Louisiana, or Oregon. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster Average Salary
The salary for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters ranges between about $44,690 and $95,330 a year.
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters who work in Maryland, California, or Wyoming, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,850 |
| Arizona | $56,130 |
| Arkansas | $61,660 |
| California | $75,170 |
| District of Columbia | $66,770 |
| Florida | $62,260 |
| Georgia | $59,700 |
| Idaho | $61,060 |
| Illinois | $68,410 |
| Indiana | $62,370 |
| Kansas | $65,260 |
| Kentucky | $52,230 |
| Maine | $62,130 |
| Maryland | $77,790 |
| Massachusetts | $73,950 |
| Michigan | $62,460 |
| Minnesota | $69,500 |
| Missouri | $66,910 |
| Montana | $63,050 |
| Nebraska | $66,910 |
| Nevada | $67,010 |
| New Hampshire | $40,690 |
| New Jersey | $70,500 |
| New Mexico | $68,350 |
| New York | $66,560 |
| North Carolina | $56,380 |
| Ohio | $66,830 |
| Oklahoma | $42,680 |
| Oregon | $70,030 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,110 |
| South Carolina | $60,540 |
| South Dakota | $66,880 |
| Tennessee | $68,900 |
| Texas | $69,560 |
| Utah | $59,440 |
| Virginia | $68,130 |
| Washington | $67,560 |
| West Virginia | $62,080 |
| Wisconsin | $67,840 |
| Wyoming | $72,660 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters:
- Microsoft Office
- Inventory tracking software
How to Become a Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster
Are there Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters education requirements?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Railroad Conductor or Yardmaster?
Where do Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Work?
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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