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BNSF Railway salaries
BNSF Railway salary estimate
$66,803yearly
BNSF Railway Salary Overview
The average salary at BNSF Railway is $66,803 annually, reflecting the company's commitment to competitive compensation across various roles. Salaries can vary widely based on location, department, and specific job responsibilities. For instance, engineering positions often command higher salaries due to their specialized nature. Additionally, employees in management roles also tend to see increased compensation.
Highest Paying Positions
Some of the best-paying jobs at BNSF Railway include engineering roles and management positions, which provide significant earning potential. Understanding these salary structures can help prospective employees gauge their career options and expectations.
Regional Salary Variations
Average salaries can differ by state and region, with locations in areas with a higher cost of living typically offering more competitive pay. This variability emphasizes the importance of researching specific locations when considering employment at BNSF Railway.
Highest paying jobs at BNSF Railway
The highest paying jobs at BNSF Railway are lead technician, senior java developer, sap security consultant, and interactive developer. Lead technician jobs at BNSF Railway earn an average yearly salary of $108,325, BNSF Railway senior java developer jobs average $107,741, and BNSF Railway sap security consultant jobs average $99,047.
The lowest paying BNSF Railway roles include clerk and equipment operator. BNSF Railway clerk average salary is $37,197 per year. So while the average BNSF Railway salary is $66,803 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.
Highest paying jobs at BNSF Railway
| Rank | Job title | Average BNSF Railway salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lead Technician | $108,325 | $52.08 |
| 2 | Senior Java Developer | $107,741 | $51.80 |
| 3 | SAP Security Consultant | $99,047 | $47.62 |
| 4 | Interactive Developer | $89,818 | $43.18 |
| 5 | Project Manager | $87,476 | $42.06 |
| 6 | Senior Research Specialist | $84,090 | $40.43 |
| 7 | Business Analyst | $82,798 | $39.81 |
| 8 | Operations Manager | $80,906 | $38.90 |
| 9 | Data Analyst | $79,565 | $38.25 |
| 10 | Mechanical Foreman | $79,373 | $38.16 |
| 11 | Heavy Equipment Mechanic | $78,412 | $37.70 |
| 12 | Conductor And Engineer | $76,055 | $36.56 |
| 13 | Train Conductor | $75,942 | $36.51 |
| 14 | Locomotive Engineer | $73,062 | $35.13 |
| 15 | Management Trainee | $72,922 | $35.06 |
| 16 | Electronics Technician | $71,553 | $34.40 |
| 17 | Locomotive Electrician | $69,620 | $33.47 |
| 18 | Diesel Electrician | $69,443 | $33.39 |
| 19 | Engine Mechanic | $68,927 | $33.14 |
| 20 | First Line Supervisor | $68,900 | $33.13 |
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Average BNSF Railway salary by state
BNSF Railway pays the highest salaries in California due to higher costs of living and competition in the state.
| Rank | State | Average BNSF Railway salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $74,370 | $35.75 |
| 2 | Washington | $73,237 | $35.21 |
| 3 | Oregon | $72,581 | $34.89 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $69,561 | $33.44 |
| 5 | Illinois | $68,001 | $32.69 |
| 6 | Arizona | $67,542 | $32.47 |
| 7 | Colorado | $67,118 | $32.27 |
| 8 | Texas | $66,078 | $31.77 |
| 9 | Nebraska | $64,913 | $31.21 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $64,708 | $31.11 |
| 11 | Montana | $64,041 | $30.79 |
| 12 | Kansas | $63,903 | $30.72 |
| 13 | Tennessee | $62,689 | $30.14 |
| 14 | Oklahoma | $62,143 | $29.88 |
| 15 | Alabama | $61,491 | $29.56 |
How much does BNSF Railway pay by location?
Highest paying BNSF Railway locations
| Rank | Location | Average BNSF Railway salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond, CA | $75,389 | $36.24 |
| 2 | Vancouver, WA | $74,014 | $35.58 |
| 3 | Nore, MN | $68,736 | $33.05 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $67,961 | $32.67 |
| 5 | Cheyenne, WY | $67,887 | $32.64 |
| 6 | Minot, ND | $67,659 | $32.53 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $67,545 | $32.47 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $66,952 | $32.19 |
| 9 | Saint Louis, MO | $66,511 | $31.98 |
| 10 | Sioux City, IA | $66,009 | $31.74 |
| 11 | Bonners Ferry, ID | $65,928 | $31.70 |
| 12 | Fort Worth, TX | $65,691 | $31.58 |
| 13 | Lincoln, NE | $64,824 | $31.17 |
| 14 | Albuquerque, NM | $64,706 | $31.11 |
| 15 | Pony, MT | $64,376 | $30.95 |
| 16 | Kansas City, KS | $63,878 | $30.71 |
| 17 | Memphis, TN | $62,493 | $30.04 |
| 18 | Superior, WI | $62,319 | $29.96 |
| 19 | Tulsa, OK | $61,961 | $29.79 |
| 20 | Aberdeen, SD | $61,624 | $29.63 |
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BNSF Railway salaries by department
Salaries at BNSF Railway vary depending on the department you work in. BNSF Railway salaries in the it department are the highest with an average salary of $83,962. Employees in the engineering department at BNSF Railway receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $79,761 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at BNSF Railway include the administrative and the plant/manufacturing organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $46,372 and $50,435, respectively.
Average BNSF Railway salary by department
| Rank | Department | Average BNSF Railway salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IT | $83,962 | $40.37 |
| 2 | Engineering | $79,761 | $38.35 |
| 3 | Warehouse | $79,530 | $38.24 |
| 4 | Research & Development | $77,524 | $37.27 |
| 5 | Marketing | $72,727 | $34.96 |
| 6 | Finance | $70,478 | $33.88 |
| 7 | Human Resources | $68,275 | $32.82 |
| 8 | Supply Chain | $63,926 | $30.73 |
| 9 | Construction | $63,712 | $30.63 |
| 10 | Retail | $62,304 | $29.95 |
| 11 | Facilities | $58,616 | $28.18 |
| 12 | Plant/Manufacturing | $50,435 | $24.25 |
| 13 | Administrative | $46,372 | $22.29 |
How much does BNSF Railway pay by department?
Best paying BNSF Railway engineering salaries
| Rank | Position | Average BNSF Railway salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Senior Java Developer | $107,741 | $51.80 |
| 2 | Senior Leader | $105,857 | $50.89 |
| 3 | Engineering Supervisor | $102,856 | $49.45 |
| 4 | SAP Security Consultant | $99,047 | $47.62 |
| 5 | SAP Consultant | $91,146 | $43.82 |
| 6 | Technical Analyst | $90,301 | $43.41 |
| 7 | Interactive Developer | $89,818 | $43.18 |
| 8 | Database Administrator | $89,069 | $42.82 |
| 9 | Data Analyst | $79,565 | $38.25 |
| 10 | Conductor And Engineer | $76,055 | $36.56 |
| 11 | Train Conductor | $75,942 | $36.51 |
| 12 | Trainman | $74,323 | $35.73 |
| 13 | Locomotive Engineer | $73,062 | $35.13 |
| 14 | Locomotive Operator | $66,773 | $32.10 |
| 15 | Telecommunications Technician | $60,376 | $29.03 |
| 16 | Engineering Internship | $52,290 | $25.14 |
| 17 | Yardmaster | $48,680 | $23.40 |
| 18 | Train Dispatcher | $48,228 | $23.19 |
Best paying BNSF Railway plant/manufacturing salaries
| Rank | Position | Average BNSF Railway salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quality Assurance Lead | $100,453 | $48.29 |
| 2 | Quality Assurance Engineer | $84,038 | $40.40 |
| 3 | Equipment Manager | $71,541 | $34.39 |
| 4 | Production Supervisor | $70,182 | $33.74 |
| 5 | Engine Mechanic | $68,927 | $33.14 |
| 6 | First Line Supervisor | $68,900 | $33.13 |
| 7 | Welding Foreman | $68,683 | $33.02 |
| 8 | Track Maintainer | $68,164 | $32.77 |
| 9 | Diesel Mechanic | $67,280 | $32.35 |
| 10 | Pipefitter/Welder | $66,709 | $32.07 |
| 11 | Pipe Fitter | $59,980 | $28.84 |
| 12 | Repairer | $57,215 | $27.51 |
| 13 | Maintenance Welder | $57,004 | $27.41 |
| 14 | Machinist | $54,261 | $26.09 |
| 15 | Trackman | $53,243 | $25.60 |
| 16 | Mechanical Inspector | $52,656 | $25.32 |
| 17 | Track Inspector | $48,540 | $23.34 |
| 18 | Machine Operator | $39,873 | $19.17 |
| 19 | Equipment Operator | $37,383 | $17.97 |
Best paying BNSF Railway facilities salaries
| Rank | Position | Average BNSF Railway salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heavy Equipment Mechanic | $78,412 | $37.70 |
| 2 | Electronics Technician | $71,553 | $34.40 |
| 3 | Senior Maintenance Supervisor | $70,603 | $33.94 |
| 4 | Signal Maintainer | $58,238 | $28.00 |
| 5 | Signal Supervisor | $56,148 | $26.99 |
| 6 | Trackman | $53,243 | $25.60 |
| 7 | Track Repair Worker | $52,132 | $25.06 |
| 8 | Facility Worker | $51,434 | $24.73 |
| 9 | Carman | $51,027 | $24.53 |
| 10 | Track Inspector | $48,540 | $23.34 |
| 11 | Train Dispatcher | $48,228 | $23.19 |
| 12 | Airport Maintenance Labour | $47,051 | $22.62 |
| 13 | Locomotive Mechanic | $46,913 | $22.55 |
| 14 | Canvas Shop Labour | $45,705 | $21.97 |
| 15 | Security Officer | $36,296 | $17.45 |
BNSF Railway competitors’ average salaries
Average salaries at BNSF Railway competitors, like Loup Logistics, Genesee & Wyoming, and Kansas City Southern, vary. Loup Logistics employees earn the highest salaries, with an average yearly salary of $79,870. The average salary at Genesee & Wyoming is $68,647 per year, and the average salary at Kansas City Southern is $67,910 per year.
Highest paying BNSF Railway competitors
| Rank | Company name | Zippia score | Average salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loup Logistics | 4.8 | $79,870 |
| 2 | Genesee & Wyoming | 4.5 | $68,647 |
| 3 | Kansas City Southern | 4.8 | $67,910 |
| 4 | Conrail | 4.2 | $65,353 |
| 5 | Montana Rail Link | 4.0 | $60,024 |
| 6 | Union Pacific | 4.1 | $58,205 |
| 7 | Watco | 4.3 | $58,096 |
| 8 | Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway | 3.9 | $56,545 |
| 9 | Norfolk Southern | 4.2 | $56,294 |
| 10 | Canadian Pacific Railway | 4.8 | $56,143 |
| 11 | CSX | 4.9 | $55,738 |
| 12 | Port Terminal Railroad Association | 3.5 | $51,812 |
| 13 | R. J. Corman Railroad Group | 4.4 | $50,491 |
| 14 | National Railroad Passenger Corporation | 4.8 | $50,240 |
| 15 | Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad | 3.2 | $50,196 |
| 16 | Railserve | 3.9 | $48,084 |
| 17 | Iowa Interstate Railroad | 3.9 | $41,348 |
| 18 | Iowa Northern Railway Co | 2.8 | $38,413 |
| 19 | Association of American Railroads | 4.2 | $38,339 |
| 20 | Brewster Procurement Group | 3.5 | $38,136 |
Recently added BNSF Railway salaries
| Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Manager/Manager Accounting (External Reporting) | Fort Worth, TX | 06/27/2025 | $77,600 |
| Special Agent (Police)-Commerce/ | Richmond, VA | 06/26/2025 | $92,000 |
| Engineer Systems Detectors (Signal) | Kansas City, KS | 06/26/2025 | $86,200 |
| Supervisor Design Services) | Kansas City, KS | 06/26/2025 | $76,450 |
| Signal Apprentice-Montana MRL Subdivision | Missoula, MT | 06/26/2025 | $57,096 |
What employees say about salary at BNSF Railway
Operations has great salary, excellent wellness benefits, great internal employee resource groups
Scheduled vs exempt animosity grows greater with each furlough
Salary
Transparent, hold quarterly calls and will take questions
Fire those who lack integrity - too much “good ol boys” club
Safety first!
Higher
Leadership is getting better at being more diverse, middle management can be cliquey
It’s easy and the money is good
Avidly employment and challenging endeavors
They stuck the soul out of you. Skirt labor laws and throw you away at the first opportunity
Being outdoors
Absolutely nothing. They are horrid
Get rid of the nepotism and run the company line you actually cared about your customers
Showing up and taking the test, and passing without really understanding what the test was.
Way low. You make less than minimum wage when in salary in the transportation career field
Minimal.
When I left
Pays well and provides great benefits for you and your family.
Unpredictive work schedule
None
You never get to see your family and you don’t make enough money to do anything
There are no perks are benefits BNSF stands for he better not start a family because it will destroy it 100%
Great pay and benefits
No family life. Management doesn't care about employee
Excellent pay and medical insurance
Knowing when I come and go to work, having a set schedule. Benefits are good and retirement is great. Decent pay and they pay for all meals travel and hotel stay and in provided a company truck
People
Retirement
Good pay and benefits
Can’t find a house and settle down
Retirement is very good
Frequently asked questions about BNSF Railway salaries
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Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of BNSF Railway, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about BNSF Railway. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at BNSF Railway. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by BNSF Railway. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of BNSF Railway and its employees or that of Zippia.