Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Salary
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in Virginia make a median of $79,900 a year, or about $38.41 an hour. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $84,292 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 31.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Virginia. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $80K get you in Virginia?
About railroad conductors and yardmasters
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Virginia
Railroad conductors and yardmasters pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $80K locally vs. $78K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,646/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level railroad conductors and yardmasters (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $16K 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 Virginia numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a railroad conductors and yardmaster afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 32.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad conductors and yardmasters typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,832/month. At HUD’s $1,646/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 Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $80K locally vs. $78K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for railroad conductors and yardmasters?
Virginia pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do railroad conductors and yardmasters make in Virginia?
The median is $79,900 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,860, and experienced railroad conductors and yardmasters can clear $79,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,043/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 32.6% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $84,292 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.