Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Salary
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN make a median of $96,120 a year, or about $46.21 an hour. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $96K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $92,789 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,781/month, or 29.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $96K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin’s Regional Price Parity (103.59). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About railroad conductors and yardmasters
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin sits well above the national pay line for railroad conductors and yardmasters, local pay runs about 23% higher than the U.S. median of $78K. Rent runs $1,781/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.59) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level railroad conductors and yardmasters (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $96K. Top earners bring in $96K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $102K | +31% | 310 |
| Pennsylvania | $84K | +7% | 2,750 |
| Maryland | $83K | +7% | 300 |
| Indiana | $81K | +4% | 1,720 |
| Delaware | $80K | +3% | N/A |
| New York | $80K | +3% | 6,980 |
| Virginia | $80K | +2% | 900 |
| Illinois | $80K | +2% | 2,790 |
| Florida | $80K | +2% | 760 |
| Washington | $79K | +1% | 810 |
| Michigan | $79K | +1% | 760 |
| Minnesota | $79K | +1% | 830 |
| Arizona | $78K | +0% | 460 |
| Mississippi | $78K | +0% | 440 |
| New Mexico | $78K | -0% | 400 |
| Colorado | $78K | -1% | 490 |
| Georgia | $76K | -3% | 1,740 |
| South Carolina | $74K | -6% | 420 |
| Tennessee | $72K | -8% | 790 |
| California | $70K | -10% | 1,500 |
| Texas | $69K | -12% | 4,640 |
| Kansas | $69K | -12% | 1,200 |
| Oregon | $69K | -12% | 390 |
| Wyoming | $68K | -12% | N/A |
| Missouri | $68K | -13% | 970 |
| Arkansas | $68K | -13% | 390 |
| South Dakota | $63K | -20% | 90 |
| Louisiana | $62K | -20% | 390 |
| Ohio | $61K | -21% | 1,480 |
| Wisconsin | $60K | -23% | 630 |
| North Carolina | $59K | -24% | N/A |
| West Virginia | $55K | -29% | 320 |
| Kentucky | $52K | -33% | 110 |
Showing 1–10 of 33 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track railroad conductors and yardmasters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a railroad conductors and yardmaster afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $96K, rent takes 30% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,781/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for railroad conductors and yardmasters in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad conductors and yardmasters typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,556/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Local pay is 23% above the national median — $96K here vs. $78K nationally.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for railroad conductors and yardmasters?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $96K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s +23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do railroad conductors and yardmasters make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $96,120 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,260, and experienced railroad conductors and yardmasters can clear $96,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $96K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,937/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 30% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median railroad conductors and yardmasters salary is worth about $92,789 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.