Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Salary
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in Illinois make a median of $79,820 a year, or about $38.38 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $134K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $85,051 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 26.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $80K get you in Illinois?
About railroad conductors and yardmasters
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What this looks like in Illinois
Railroad conductors and yardmasters pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $80K locally vs. $78K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level railroad conductors and yardmasters (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $134K or more, a $71K spread from bottom to top.
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters salary by metro in Illinois
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $96K | +20% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track railroad conductors and yardmasters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a railroad conductors and yardmaster afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 27.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for railroad conductors and yardmasters in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad conductors and yardmasters typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,797/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $80K locally vs. $78K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for railroad conductors and yardmasters?
Illinois pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do railroad conductors and yardmasters make in Illinois?
The median is $79,820 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,290, and experienced railroad conductors and yardmasters can clear $134,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,049/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 27.9% 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 Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $85,051 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.