Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Salary
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA make a median of $92,400 a year, or about $44.42 an hour. The range runs from $92K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.13), so that salary is closer to $83,146 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,501/month, about 40.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $92K get you in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue’s Regional Price Parity (111.13). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About railroad conductors and yardmasters
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What this looks like in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue sits well above the national pay line for railroad conductors and yardmasters, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $78K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,501/month, which is 40.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 11% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.13), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Entry-level railroad conductors and yardmasters (10th percentile) start around $92K. Mid-career wages sit at $92K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $102K | +31% | 310 |
| Pennsylvania | $84K | +7% | 2,750 |
| Maryland | $83K | +7% | 300 |
| Indiana | $81K | +4% | 1,720 |
| Delaware | $80K | +3% | N/A |
| New York | $80K | +3% | 6,980 |
| Virginia | $80K | +2% | 900 |
| Illinois | $80K | +2% | 2,790 |
| Florida | $80K | +2% | 760 |
| Washington | $79K | +1% | 810 |
| Michigan | $79K | +1% | 760 |
| Minnesota | $79K | +1% | 830 |
| Arizona | $78K | +0% | 460 |
| Mississippi | $78K | +0% | 440 |
| New Mexico | $78K | -0% | 400 |
| Colorado | $78K | -1% | 490 |
| Georgia | $76K | -3% | 1,740 |
| South Carolina | $74K | -6% | 420 |
| Tennessee | $72K | -8% | 790 |
| California | $70K | -10% | 1,500 |
| Texas | $69K | -12% | 4,640 |
| Kansas | $69K | -12% | 1,200 |
| Oregon | $69K | -12% | 390 |
| Wyoming | $68K | -12% | N/A |
| Missouri | $68K | -13% | 970 |
| Arkansas | $68K | -13% | 390 |
| South Dakota | $63K | -20% | 90 |
| Louisiana | $62K | -20% | 390 |
| Ohio | $61K | -21% | 1,480 |
| Wisconsin | $60K | -23% | 630 |
| North Carolina | $59K | -24% | N/A |
| West Virginia | $55K | -29% | 320 |
| Kentucky | $52K | -33% | 110 |
Showing 1–10 of 33 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track railroad conductors and yardmasters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a railroad conductors and yardmaster afford a 2BR apartment alone in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $92K, rent takes 40.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,501/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,800/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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad conductors and yardmasters typically earn — is $92K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,544/month. At HUD’s $2,501/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $92K here vs. $78K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 11% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue compare to the national average for railroad conductors and yardmasters?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays $92K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.13), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do railroad conductors and yardmasters make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median is $92,400 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $92,400, and experienced railroad conductors and yardmasters can clear $131,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $92K enough to live in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,116/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,501/month, which eats 40.9% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has a Regional Price Parity of 111.13 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median railroad conductors and yardmasters salary is worth about $83,146 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.