Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Salary
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in Tennessee make a median of $71,740 a year, or about $34.49 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $93K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $79,906 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 24.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Tennessee. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $72K get you in Tennessee?
About railroad conductors and yardmasters
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Railroad conductors and yardmasters pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $72K locally vs. $78K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 24.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Tennessee
Entry-level railroad conductors and yardmasters (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $93K or more, a $46K 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 Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a railroad conductors and yardmaster afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 24.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for railroad conductors and yardmasters in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad conductors and yardmasters typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,833/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $72K locally vs. $78K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for railroad conductors and yardmasters?
Tennessee pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do railroad conductors and yardmasters make in Tennessee?
The median is $71,740 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,220, and experienced railroad conductors and yardmasters can clear $92,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,905/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 24.8% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $79,906 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.