Train conductor salary
BLS occupation: Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters · Transportation and material moving · data for May 2025
How much does a train conductor make?
- The median train conductor salary in the US is $78,000 a year ($37.50 an hour): half of the 46,440 train conductors BLS counts earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) is $79,100.
- The middle half earn between $65,610 and $83,820. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $58,740 and the top 10% more than $109,770.
- That is 53% more than the median for all US workers ($50,980).
- Oklahoma pays train conductors the most (median $102,260), followed by Pennsylvania ($83,610) and Maryland ($83,390). Kentucky pays the least ($52,380).
- After adjusting for prices, the pay goes furthest in Oklahoma, where the median is worth $116,412 in typical US prices, then Mississippi and Indiana.
- BLS projects the number of train conductors to grow 0.9% from 2025 to 2035 (all jobs: 3.5%), with about 3,000 openings a year. The typical entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent.
official From BLS's survey of employers: what train conductors are actually paid, not job ads or self-reports. Adjusted figures are derived. How we calculate.
How does your pay compare?
Train conductor salary range
Half of train conductors earn between $65,610 and $83,820 a year
Yearly pay at each point of the range, US, May 2025. For comparison, the median for all US jobs is $50,980.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Show the numbers
| Yearly pay | |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn under | $58,740 |
| Lowest 25% earn under | $65,610 |
| Median | $78,000 |
| Top 25% earn over | $83,820 |
| Top 10% earn over | $109,770 |
Train conductor salary by state
Oklahoma pays train conductors the most; Kentucky the least
Median yearly pay by state compared with the US median ($78,000), May 2025. Blue = higher pay.
- 20%+ below US
- 10–20% below
- 3–10% below
- Within 3%
- 3–10% above
- 10–20% above
- 20%+ above US
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.
Show the numbers
| State | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $102,260 median |
| Pennsylvania | $83,610 median |
| Maryland | $83,390 median |
| Indiana | $81,260 median |
| Delaware | $80,410 median |
| New York | $80,000 median |
| Virginia | $79,900 median |
| Illinois | $79,820 median |
| Florida | $79,600 median |
| Washington | $79,040 median |
| Michigan | $78,960 median |
| Minnesota | $78,930 median |
| Arizona | $78,080 median |
| Mississippi | $78,010 median |
| New Mexico | $77,890 median |
| Colorado | $77,550 median |
| Georgia | $75,810 median |
| South Carolina | $73,660 median |
| Tennessee | $71,740 median |
| California | $69,950 median |
| Texas | $68,980 median |
| Kansas | $68,730 median |
| Oregon | $68,580 median |
| Wyoming | $68,430 median |
| Missouri | $68,030 median |
| Arkansas | $67,710 median |
| South Dakota | $62,730 median |
| Louisiana | $62,170 median |
| Ohio | $61,390 median |
| Wisconsin | $59,690 median |
| North Carolina | $58,930 median |
| West Virginia | $55,180 median |
| Kentucky | $52,380 median |
Where train conductor pay goes furthest
A salary buys more where prices are low. We divide each state's median by its price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, so every figure is in typical US prices. derived
Train conductors' pay goes furthest in Oklahoma once prices are counted
Median pay ÷ the state's price level (BEA, 2024; US = 100), shown in typical US prices. Top 10 states.
US median
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Our calculation.
Show the numbers
| Worth, in US prices | |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $116,412 |
| Mississippi | $89,715 |
| Indiana | $87,068 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,691 |
| New Mexico | $84,468 |
| Michigan | $82,065 |
| Delaware | $80,565 |
| Minnesota | $80,034 |
| Illinois | $79,854 |
| Maryland | $79,450 |
Train conductor pay in every state
| State | Median a year | Hourly | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Employed | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $102,260 | $49.16 | $51,360 | $128,140 | 310 | $116,412 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,610 | $40.20 | $58,990 | $83,870 | 2,750 | $85,691 |
| Maryland | $83,390 | $40.09 | $65,300 | $97,510 | 300 | $79,450 |
| Indiana | $81,260 | $39.07 | $64,240 | $96,820 | 1,720 | $87,068 |
| Delaware | $80,410 | $38.66 | $74,530 | $130,710 | – | $80,565 |
| New York | $80,000 | $38.46 | $65,610 | $109,770 | 6,980 | $74,128 |
| Virginia | $79,900 | $38.41 | $63,860 | $79,900 | 900 | $79,028 |
| Illinois | $79,820 | $38.38 | $63,290 | $134,440 | 2,790 | $79,854 |
| Florida | $79,600 | $38.27 | $50,430 | $121,460 | 760 | $76,972 |
| Washington | $79,040 | $38.00 | $63,880 | $120,630 | 810 | $73,860 |
| Michigan | $78,960 | $37.96 | $58,850 | $92,710 | 760 | $82,065 |
| Minnesota | $78,930 | $37.95 | $78,800 | $91,400 | 830 | $80,034 |
| Arizona | $78,080 | $37.54 | $62,930 | $121,330 | 460 | $77,555 |
| Mississippi | $78,010 | $37.50 | $49,030 | $137,590 | 440 | $89,715 |
| New Mexico | $77,890 | $37.45 | $64,890 | $77,890 | 400 | $84,468 |
| Colorado | $77,550 | $37.28 | $59,020 | $123,860 | 490 | $75,253 |
| Georgia | $75,810 | $36.45 | $46,450 | $126,950 | 1,740 | $78,728 |
| South Carolina | $73,660 | $35.41 | $73,660 | $73,660 | 420 | $78,572 |
| Tennessee | $71,740 | $34.49 | $47,220 | $92,980 | 790 | $78,089 |
| California | $69,950 | $33.63 | $69,230 | $113,680 | 1,500 | $63,177 |
| Texas | $68,980 | $33.16 | $45,680 | $79,400 | 4,640 | $71,072 |
| Kansas | $68,730 | $33.04 | $49,190 | $71,400 | 1,200 | $76,309 |
| Oregon | $68,580 | $32.97 | $59,160 | $77,160 | 390 | $66,350 |
| Wyoming | $68,430 | $32.90 | $68,430 | $107,560 | – | $73,826 |
| Missouri | $68,030 | $32.71 | $59,990 | $68,590 | 970 | $74,909 |
| Arkansas | $67,710 | $32.55 | $47,210 | $83,290 | 390 | $77,884 |
| South Dakota | $62,730 | $30.16 | $46,320 | $80,580 | 90 | $70,813 |
| Louisiana | $62,170 | $29.89 | $45,240 | $71,850 | 390 | $70,482 |
| Ohio | $61,390 | $29.51 | $61,340 | $67,600 | 1,480 | $66,172 |
| Wisconsin | $59,690 | $28.70 | $50,540 | $74,500 | 630 | $63,436 |
| North Carolina | $58,930 | $28.33 | $52,040 | $92,220 | – | $62,475 |
| West Virginia | $55,180 | $26.53 | $46,570 | $99,330 | 320 | $61,656 |
| Kentucky | $52,380 | $25.18 | $30,620 | $76,280 | 110 | $58,097 |
BLS does not publish pay for train conductors in 18 states (too few workers to estimate reliably). After cost of living = median ÷ (BEA price level ÷ 100).
Train conductor salary by city
Metro areas where BLS publishes train conductor pay: 7 of 387. Rent share = typical rent (September 2026, Zillow) × 12 ÷ the median salary; under 30% is affordable by the usual rule.
Highest-paying metro areas
- Chicago, IL $96,120
- Seattle, WA $92,400
- New York, NY $80,000
- Denver, CO $59,790
- Houston, TX $46,440
- Dallas, TX $45,600
- Savannah, GA $38,020
Where the pay goes furthest
- Chicago, IL $92,784
- Seattle, WA $83,144
- New York, NY $71,071
- Denver, CO $56,522
- Houston, TX $47,086
- Dallas, TX $44,233
- Savannah, GA $39,934
All 7 metro areas
| Metro area | Median a year | Employed | After cost of living | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $96,120 | 80 | $92,784 | 27% |
| Seattle, WA | $92,400 | 50 | $83,144 | 29% |
| New York, NY | $80,000 | 3,800 | $71,071 | 53% |
| Denver, CO | $59,790 | 70 | $56,522 | 38% |
| Houston, TX | $46,440 | 190 | $47,086 | 42% |
| Dallas, TX | $45,600 | 70 | $44,233 | 44% |
| Savannah, GA | $38,020 | 90 | $39,934 | 56% |
What the median train conductor salary pays per paycheck
| Period | Before taxes |
|---|---|
| Year | $78,000 |
| Month | $6,500 |
| Every two weeks | $3,000 |
| Week | $1,500 |
| Hour | $37.50 |
Gross pay, 52 weeks a year, 2,080 hours. Hourly to salary calculator.
Becoming a train conductor: education and job outlook
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
|---|---|
| Work experience needed | None |
| On-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
| Projected change in jobs, 2025–35 | +0.9% (all jobs: +3.5%) |
| Openings a year (average) | 3,000 |
| Self-employed | % |
official BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. Openings include workers who retire or change jobs. What the work involves: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Similar jobs
| Job | Median a year | Typical education |
|---|---|---|
| Truck driver | $58,640 | Postsecondary certificate |
| Air traffic controller | $148,080 | Associate's degree |
| Airline pilot | $232,140 | Bachelor's degree |
| Flight attendant | $63,580 | High school diploma |
| Forklift operator | $46,420 | No formal education |
| Warehouse worker | $40,240 | No formal education |
| Bus driver | $59,050 | High school diploma |
| School bus driver | $47,920 | High school diploma |
Questions about train conductor pay
How much does a train conductor make an hour?
The median is $37.50 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $28.24 and the top 10% over $52.78.
How much does a train conductor make a month?
About $6,500 a month before taxes at the median salary of $78,000, or $3,000 every two weeks.
What state pays train conductors the most?
Oklahoma, with a median of $102,260. Pennsylvania ($83,610), Maryland ($83,390), Indiana ($81,260) and Delaware ($80,410) follow.
Where do train conductors make the most after cost of living?
Oklahoma: its median of $102,260 is worth $116,412 at typical US prices. Mississippi, Indiana and Pennsylvania come next.
How much do entry-level train conductors make?
BLS does not report pay by experience. The lowest-paid 10% of train conductors earn under $58,740 a year, and the lowest-paid quarter under $65,610, which is a reasonable guide to starting pay.
What education do you need to become a train conductor?
BLS lists the typical entry-level education as a high school diploma or equivalent. Work experience in a related job: none. On-the-job training: moderate-term on-the-job training.
Sources and limits
- Pay and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation 53-4031 (Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters). Downloaded 2026-10-24.
- OEWS counts wage and salary workers at employers, including tips and commissions but not overtime pay, bonuses that are not tied to production, or benefits. It leaves out the self-employed. BLS does not publish figures above $239,200 a year or for states and metro areas with too few workers.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (US = 100). Rents: Zillow Observed Rent Index, September 2026; Data Provided by Zillow Group.
- Outlook and education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Pay is not broken down by experience, employer or specialty (for example, ER or pediatric nursing); BLS does not publish those splits.