Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
Also called: Conductor, Freight Conductor, Railroad Conductor, YardmasterCoordinate activities of switch-engine crew within railroad yard, industrial plant, or similar location. Conductors coordinate activities of train crew on passenger or freight trains. Yardmasters review train schedules and switching orders and coordinate activities of workers engaged in railroad traffic operations, such as the makeup or breakup of trains and yard switching.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 9 of its 20 tasks, and jobs are projected to grow 0.9% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 1.8% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 9.0 hires for every 10 job openings in transportation, warehousing, and utilities, which employs about 91% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.9.0 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $78,080 | $76,130 to $78,080 | 460 |
| Arkansas | $67,710 | $67,710 to $67,710 | 390 |
| California | $69,950 | $69,230 to $77,630 | 1,500 |
| Colorado | $77,550 | $77,020 to $83,240 | 490 |
| Delaware | $80,410 | $80,410 to $82,330 | not published |
| Florida | $79,600 | $78,560 to $97,410 | 760 |
| Georgia | $75,810 | $63,230 to $92,610 | 1,740 |
| Idaho | not published | not published | 270 |
| Illinois | $79,820 | $76,980 to $96,120 | 2,790 |
| Indiana | $81,260 | $79,220 to $83,280 | 1,720 |
| Kansas | $68,730 | $49,190 to $71,400 | 1,200 |
| Kentucky | $52,380 | $34,440 to $52,430 | 110 |
| Louisiana | $62,170 | $46,350 to $65,170 | 390 |
| Maryland | $83,390 | $82,060 to $95,640 | 300 |
| Michigan | $78,960 | $65,610 to $79,890 | 760 |
| Minnesota | $78,930 | $78,830 to $90,560 | 830 |
| Mississippi | $78,010 | $59,930 to $78,040 | 440 |
| Missouri | $68,030 | $68,030 to $68,240 | 970 |
| New Mexico | $77,890 | $76,370 to $77,890 | 400 |
| New York | $80,000 | $78,970 to $105,210 | 6,980 |
| North Carolina | $58,930 | $52,050 to $80,570 | not published |
| Ohio | $61,390 | $61,340 to $61,390 | 1,480 |
| Oklahoma | $102,260 | $78,140 to $128,140 | 310 |
| Oregon | $68,580 | $68,580 to $68,580 | 390 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,610 | $63,970 to $83,820 | 2,750 |
| South Carolina | $73,660 | $73,660 to $73,660 | 420 |
| South Dakota | $62,730 | $62,730 to $62,980 | 90 |
| Tennessee | $71,740 | $62,190 to $73,100 | 790 |
| Texas | $68,980 | $59,310 to $71,070 | 4,640 |
| Virginia | $79,900 | $79,750 to $79,900 | 900 |
| Washington | $79,040 | $63,880 to $92,400 | 810 |
| West Virginia | $55,180 | $55,160 to $76,820 | 320 |
| Wisconsin | $59,690 | $59,650 to $73,030 | 630 |
| Wyoming | $68,430 | $68,430 to $107,560 | not published |
Nationally: $78,000. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 9 of its 20 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Direct engineers to move cars to fit planned train configurations, combining or separating cars to make up or break up trains. | Not published |
| AI + software | Direct and instruct workers engaged in yard activities, such as switching tracks, coupling and uncoupling cars, and routing inbound and outbound traffic. | Not published |
| AI + software | Review schedules, switching orders, way bills, and shipping records to obtain cargo loading and unloading information and to plan work. | Not published |
| Not much | Receive instructions from dispatchers regarding trains' routes, timetables, and cargoes. | Not published |
| Not much | Signal engineers to begin train runs, stop trains, or change speed, using telecommunications equipment or hand signals. | Not published |
| Not much | Arrange for the removal of defective cars from trains at stations or stops. | Not published |
See all 20 tasks
| Not much | Receive information regarding train or rail problems from dispatchers or from electronic monitoring devices. | Not published |
| Not much | Observe yard traffic to determine tracks available to accommodate inbound and outbound traffic. | Not published |
| AI + software | Keep records of the contents and destination of each train car, and make sure that cars are added or removed at proper points on routes. | Not published |
| Not much | Confirm routes and destination information for freight cars. | Not published |
| AI + software | Confer with engineers regarding train routes, timetables, and cargoes, and to discuss alternative routes when there are rail defects or obstructions. | Not published |
| Not much | Operate controls to activate track switches and traffic signals. | Not published |
| AI + software | Inspect freight cars for compliance with sealing procedures, and record car numbers and seal numbers. | Not published |
| AI + software | Supervise and coordinate crew activities to transport freight and passengers and to provide boarding, porter, maid, and meal services to passengers. | Not published |
| Not much | Supervise workers in the inspection and maintenance of mechanical equipment to ensure efficient and safe train operation. | Not published |
| Not much | Inspect each car periodically during runs. | Not published |
| AI + software | Document and prepare reports of accidents, unscheduled stops, or delays. | Not published |
| Not much | Verify accuracy of timekeeping instruments with engineers to ensure trains depart on time. | Not published |
| Not much | Instruct workers to set warning signals in front and at rear of trains during emergency stops. | Not published |
| AI + software | Record departure and arrival times, messages, tickets and revenue collected, and passenger accommodations and destinations. O*NET flags this task's ratings as uncertain | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 0 of the 20 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 20 tasks fall under 12 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures | |||
| Communicate with others about operational plans or activities | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes | |||
| Inspect vehicles | |||
| Evaluate the quality or accuracy of data | |||
| Schedule operational activities | |||
| Prepare reports of operational or procedural activities |
Show all 12 activities
| Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Operate transportation equipment or vehicles | |||
| Direct security or safety activities or operations | |||
| Signal others to coordinate work activities |
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for railroad conductors and yardmasters specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 3,307 moves out
- 1 Music Directors and Composers High +1.2% 7%
- 2 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 5%
- 3 Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Very high +2.0% 5%
- 4 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 5 General and Operations Managers High +5.0% 3%
Where people moved in from
of 3,253 moves in
- 1 Music Directors and Composers High +1.2% 5%
- 2 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 4%
- 3 Retail Salespersons Very high -0.3% 4%
- 4 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 3%
- 5 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 86% high school
- 8% postsecondary certificate
- 6% associate's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 24 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 4% less than high school
- 33% high school
- 39% some college
- 8% associate's
- 14% bachelor's
- 1% master's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 527 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
1 program: Railroad and Railway Transportation.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 1 registered apprenticeship in this occupation (Railroad Conductor). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/53-4031.00