Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Salary
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in Maryland make a median of $83,390 a year, or about $40.09 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $84,437 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,795/month, about 34.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Maryland. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $83K get you in Maryland?
About railroad conductors and yardmasters
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What this looks like in Maryland
Railroad conductors and yardmasters pay in Maryland tracks closely to the national median, $83K locally vs. $78K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,795/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) 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, Maryland
Entry-level railroad conductors and yardmasters (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $32K 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 Maryland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a railroad conductors and yardmaster afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 34% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/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 Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad conductors and yardmasters typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,918/month. At HUD’s $1,795/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Maryland?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $83K locally vs. $78K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for railroad conductors and yardmasters?
Maryland pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do railroad conductors and yardmasters make in Maryland?
The median is $83,390 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,300, and experienced railroad conductors and yardmasters can clear $97,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,272/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 34% 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 Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (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 $84,437 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.