Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Salary
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in Minnesota make a median of $78,930 a year, or about $37.95 an hour. The range runs from $79K at the entry level to $91K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $85,238 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,384/month, or 26.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Minnesota. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $79K get you in Minnesota?
About railroad conductors and yardmasters
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Railroad conductors and yardmasters pay in Minnesota tracks closely to the national median, $79K locally vs. $78K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,384/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, Minnesota
Entry-level railroad conductors and yardmasters (10th percentile) start around $79K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $91K or more, a $13K 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 Minnesota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a railroad conductors and yardmaster afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 27.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for railroad conductors and yardmasters in Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad conductors and yardmasters typically earn — is $79K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,728/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is railroad conductors and yardmaster a high-paying job in Minnesota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $79K locally vs. $78K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for railroad conductors and yardmasters?
Minnesota pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do railroad conductors and yardmasters make in Minnesota?
The median is $78,930 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,800, and experienced railroad conductors and yardmasters can clear $91,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,998/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 27.7% 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $85,238 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.