Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Salary
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in Wisconsin make a median of $59,690 a year, or about $28.7 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $63,278 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 30.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Wisconsin. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $60K get you in Wisconsin?
About railroad conductors and yardmasters
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Pay for railroad conductors and yardmasters in Wisconsin runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $78K. Rent runs $1,202/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level railroad conductors and yardmasters (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $24K 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 Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a railroad conductors and yardmaster afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 30.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new railroad conductors and yardmasters typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,032/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 Wisconsin?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $60K here vs. $78K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for railroad conductors and yardmasters?
Wisconsin pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — below the national median.
How much do railroad conductors and yardmasters make in Wisconsin?
The median is $59,690 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,540, and experienced railroad conductors and yardmasters can clear $74,500. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,990/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 30.1% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $63,278 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.