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What is a conductor and engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a conductor and engineer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $28.07 an hour? That's $58,378 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 3,100 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreConductor And EngineerUS Average
Salary
4.6

Avg. Salary $58,378

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
8.5

Growth Rate 4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.91%

Asian 2.05%

Black or African American 8.67%

Hispanic or Latino 11.87%

Unknown 4.84%

White 71.67%

Gender

female 5.75%

male 94.25%

Age - 46
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46
Stress Level
8.5

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
4.5

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
2.7

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Conductor And Engineer career paths

Key steps to become a conductor and engineer

  1. Explore conductor and engineer education requirements

    Most common conductor and engineer degrees

    High School Diploma

    30.4 %

    Bachelor's

    28.8 %

    Associate

    20.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific conductor and engineer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Switches19.59%
    Ladders15.37%
    FRA15.02%
    Rail Cars9.46%
    Hand Signals8.68%
  3. Complete relevant conductor and engineer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New conductor and engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a conductor and engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real conductor and engineer resumes.
  4. Research conductor and engineer duties and responsibilities

    • Provide excellent leadership by training new conductors in railroad rules and regulations, while simultaneously managing the train yard.
    • Operate track switches, derails, automatic switches, and retarders to change routing of train or cars.
    • Provide accurate lists of train order for switching and hazmat purposes.
    • Secure all necessary paper work, including train manifest and all hazmat and emergency contact information.
  5. Get conductor and engineer experience

  6. Prepare your conductor and engineer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your conductor and engineer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a conductor and engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Conductor And Engineer Resume templates

    Build a professional Conductor And Engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Conductor And Engineer resume.
    Conductor And Engineer Resume
    Conductor And Engineer Resume
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    Conductor And Engineer Resume
    Conductor And Engineer Resume
    Conductor And Engineer Resume
    Conductor And Engineer Resume
    Conductor And Engineer Resume
  7. Apply for conductor and engineer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a conductor and engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Conductor And Engineer Job

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Average conductor and engineer salary

The average Conductor And Engineer salary in the United States is $58,378 per year or $28 per hour. Conductor and engineer salaries range between $41,000 and $83,000 per year.

Average Conductor And Engineer Salary
$58,378 Yearly
$28.07 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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