Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Salary
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in Indiana make a median of $81,260 a year, or about $39.07 an hour. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $97K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $88,509 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 21.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Indiana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $81K get you in Indiana?
About railroad conductors and yardmasters
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What this looks like in Indiana
Railroad conductors and yardmasters pay in Indiana tracks closely to the national median, $81K locally vs. $78K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,144/month, 21.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level railroad conductors and yardmasters (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $97K or more, a $33K 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 Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a railroad conductors and yardmaster afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 21.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for railroad conductors and yardmasters in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad conductors and yardmasters typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,854/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is railroad conductors and yardmaster a high-paying job in Indiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $81K locally vs. $78K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for railroad conductors and yardmasters?
Indiana pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $89K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do railroad conductors and yardmasters make in Indiana?
The median is $81,260 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,240, and experienced railroad conductors and yardmasters can clear $96,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,256/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 21.8% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $88,509 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.