Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Salary
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in Kentucky make a median of $52,380 a year, or about $25.18 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $58,052 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,110/month, about 32.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Kentucky. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $52K get you in Kentucky?
About railroad conductors and yardmasters
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Pay for railroad conductors and yardmasters in Kentucky runs about 33% below the U.S. median of $78K. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Kentucky
Entry-level railroad conductors and yardmasters (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $46K 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 Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a railroad conductors and yardmaster afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 31.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad conductors and yardmasters typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,837/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 60% 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 Kentucky?
Local pay runs 33% below the national median — $52K here vs. $78K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for railroad conductors and yardmasters?
Kentucky pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s -33%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — below the national median.
How much do railroad conductors and yardmasters make in Kentucky?
The median is $52,380 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,620, and experienced railroad conductors and yardmasters can clear $76,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,503/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 31.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a railroad conductors and yardmasters salary go in Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $58,052 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.