Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Salary
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in South Dakota make a median of $62,730 a year, or about $30.16 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $69,785 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 23.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of South Dakota. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $63K get you in South Dakota?
About railroad conductors and yardmasters
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for railroad conductors and yardmasters in South Dakota runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $78K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 23.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, South Dakota can be a reasonable trade-off for railroad conductors and yardmasterss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level railroad conductors and yardmasters (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $34K 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 South Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a railroad conductors and yardmaster afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 23.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for railroad conductors and yardmasters in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad conductors and yardmasters typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,779/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 South Dakota?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $63K here vs. $78K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for railroad conductors and yardmasters?
South Dakota pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — below the national median.
How much do railroad conductors and yardmasters make in South Dakota?
The median is $62,730 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,320, and experienced railroad conductors and yardmasters can clear $80,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,370/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 23.3% 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $69,785 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.