Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Salary
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in New Mexico make a median of $77,890 a year, or about $37.45 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $83,699 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 21.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Mexico. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $78K get you in New Mexico?
About railroad conductors and yardmasters
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Railroad conductors and yardmasters pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $78K locally vs. $78K nationwide, a 0% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 22.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, New Mexico
Entry-level railroad conductors and yardmasters (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $78K 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 New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a railroad conductors and yardmaster afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 22.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for railroad conductors and yardmasters in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad conductors and yardmasters typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,893/month. At HUD’s $1,119/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 New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $78K locally vs. $78K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for railroad conductors and yardmasters?
New Mexico pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do railroad conductors and yardmasters make in New Mexico?
The median is $77,890 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,890, and experienced railroad conductors and yardmasters can clear $77,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,030/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 22.2% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $83,699 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.