Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $96,120 or more. The middle half of railroad conductors and yardmasters in Chicago earn between $87,130 and $96,120.
- $59K10th
- $87K25th
- $96KMedian
- $96K75th
- $96K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $87,680 | $7,307 | $42.15 |
| Median | $96,120 | $8,010 | $46.21 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $87,130 | $7,261 | $41.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $96,120 | $8,010 | $46.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Railroad conductors and yardmasters in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($89,110) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($79,100). At the median the gap is +23% against the U.S. median of $78,000.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $87,680 | $96,120 | $59,260 | $96,120 | 80 |
| Illinois | $89,110 | $79,820 | $63,290 | $134,440 | 2,790 |
| United States | $79,100 | $78,000 | $58,740 | $109,770 | 46,440 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $87,680, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $66,314 a year, or $5,526 a month and $2,551 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $67,912 | $5,659 |
| Working in IL | $66,314 | $5,526 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for railroad conductors and yardmasters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $87,680 buys what about $84,637 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters salary in nearby metro areas
- New York, NY$75,040
- Savannah, GA$40,440
- Dallas, TX$47,660
- Denver, CO$59,850
- Houston, TX$47,370
- Seattle, WA$97,280
Highest-paying cities for railroad conductors and yardmasters
Seattle, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($97,280).
- Seattle, WA$97,280
- Chicago, IL$87,680
- New York, NY$75,040
- Denver, CO$59,850
- Dallas, TX$47,660
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Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters salary in Chicago: questions
How much do railroad conductors and yardmasters make an hour in Chicago?
$42.15 an hour on average, and $46.21 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level railroad conductors and yardmasters salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $87,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the railroad conductors and yardmasters take-home pay in Chicago?
About $66,314 a year ($5,526 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $87,680.
Do railroad conductors and yardmasters earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% more than the U.S. average for this job ($79,100).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-4031; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.06, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.06).
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