Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Salary
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in Arizona make a median of $78,080 a year, or about $37.54 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $121K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $80,987 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,437/month, or 27.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Arizona. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $78K get you in Arizona?
About railroad conductors and yardmasters
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What this looks like in Arizona
Railroad conductors and yardmasters pay in Arizona tracks closely to the national median, $78K locally vs. $78K nationwide, a 0% difference. Rent runs $1,437/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level railroad conductors and yardmasters (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $121K or more, a $58K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track railroad conductors and yardmasters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a railroad conductors and yardmaster afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 28.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for railroad conductors and yardmasters in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad conductors and yardmasters typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,776/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is railroad conductors and yardmaster a high-paying job in Arizona?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $78K locally vs. $78K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for railroad conductors and yardmasters?
Arizona pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do railroad conductors and yardmasters make in Arizona?
The median is $78,080 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,930, and experienced railroad conductors and yardmasters can clear $121,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,114/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 28.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a railroad conductors and yardmasters salary go in Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median railroad conductors and yardmasters salary is worth about $80,987 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do railroad conductors and yardmasters get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.