Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Salary
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in Washington make a median of $79,040 a year, or about $38 an hour. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $121K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $77,483 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 33.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $79K get you in Washington?
About railroad conductors and yardmasters
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What this looks like in Washington
Railroad conductors and yardmasters pay in Washington tracks closely to the national median, $79K locally vs. $78K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,830/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level railroad conductors and yardmasters (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $121K or more, a $57K spread from bottom to top.
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters salary by metro in Washington
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $92K | +17% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track railroad conductors and yardmasters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a railroad conductors and yardmaster afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 34.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad conductors and yardmasters typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,833/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 Washington?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $79K locally vs. $78K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Washington compare to the national average for railroad conductors and yardmasters?
Washington pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — below the national median.
How much do railroad conductors and yardmasters make in Washington?
The median is $79,040 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,880, and experienced railroad conductors and yardmasters can clear $120,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,333/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 34.3% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (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 $77,483 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.