Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Salary
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in North Carolina make a median of $58,930 a year, or about $28.33 an hour. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $92K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $63,598 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 32.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of North Carolina. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $59K get you in North Carolina?
About railroad conductors and yardmasters
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for railroad conductors and yardmasters in North Carolina runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $78K. Rent runs $1,284/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (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, North Carolina
Entry-level railroad conductors and yardmasters (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $92K or more, a $40K 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 North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a railroad conductors and yardmaster afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 33% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad conductors and yardmasters typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,122/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 North Carolina?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $59K here vs. $78K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for railroad conductors and yardmasters?
North Carolina pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — below the national median.
How much do railroad conductors and yardmasters make in North Carolina?
The median is $58,930 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,040, and experienced railroad conductors and yardmasters can clear $92,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,895/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 33% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $63,598 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.