Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
SOC 53-4030
The median annual wage for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters is $71,130, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $72,220, and an estimated 46,490 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +11.1% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -5.6% (pay did not keep up with inflation).
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $71,130 | $71,130 | 46,490 |
| 2022 | $68,180 | $70,987 | 40,940 |
| 2021 | $63,960 | $71,922 | 48,030 |
| 2020 | $64,030 | $75,383 | 44,920 |
Nominal change
+11.1%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-5.6%
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$54,610
25th Pct
$62,180
Median
$71,130
75th Pct
$78,490
90th Pct
$99,210
Related Occupations in Transportation & Material Moving
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.