Best states for a conductor

Q: What is the best state for conductors?

The best state to be a conductor is Iowa based on conductor salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for conductors?

The highest paying state for conductors is Colorado based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for conductors?

The worst state for conductors is South Carolina, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

Are you thinking of becoming a conductor and really want to work at Norfolk Southern Railway? Turns out, your chances to become a conductor are better in some states than others.In fact, our research shows that Iowa is the best state for conductors in America. The best city in America for conductors with the highest pay is Tigard, OR.

In order to get you the best states for conductors, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a conductor, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for conductors in 2025

1. Iowa
Total conductor jobs: 8
Average annual salary: $73,476
Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000
Location Quotient:
3.3
Conductor jobs in Iowa
2. Oregon
Total conductor jobs: 7
Average annual salary: $77,889
Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000
Location Quotient:
2.53
Conductor jobs in Oregon
3. Wyoming
Total conductor jobs: 6
Average annual salary: $67,547
Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000
Location Quotient:
14.99
Conductor jobs in Wyoming
4. Utah
Total conductor jobs: 0
Average annual salary: $72,459
Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000
Location Quotient:
0
Conductor jobs in Utah
5. North Dakota
Total conductor jobs: 0
Average annual salary: $72,712
Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000
Location Quotient:
0
Conductor jobs in North Dakota
6. Nevada
Total conductor jobs: 0
Average annual salary: $70,452
Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000
Location Quotient:
0
Conductor jobs in Nevada
7. Minnesota
Total conductor jobs: 4
Average annual salary: $68,265
Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000
Location Quotient:
0.9
Conductor jobs in Minnesota
8. New Mexico
Total conductor jobs: 2
Average annual salary: $65,213
Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000
Location Quotient:
1.52
Conductor jobs in New Mexico
9. New Hampshire
Total conductor jobs: 1
Average annual salary: $66,897
Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000
Location Quotient:
0.85
Conductor jobs in New Hampshire
10. Alaska
Total conductor jobs: 0
Average annual salary: $75,694
Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000
Location Quotient:
0
Conductor jobs in Alaska

Conductor jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a conductor

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a conductor

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Iowa	$73,476	$56,000	3,145,711	8
2	Oregon	$77,889	$57,000	4,142,776	7
3	Wyoming	$67,547	$52,000	579,315	6
4	Utah	$72,459	$54,000	3,101,833	0
5	North Dakota	$72,712	$58,000	755,393	0
6	Nevada	$70,452	$50,000	2,998,039	0
7	Minnesota	$68,265	$53,000	5,576,606	4
8	New Mexico	$65,213	$48,000	2,088,070	2
9	New Hampshire	$66,897	$48,000	1,342,795	1
10	Alaska	$75,694	$67,000	739,795	0
11	Rhode Island	$67,410	$48,000	1,059,639	0
12	Missouri	$66,137	$50,000	6,113,532	3
13	Arizona	$65,592	$48,000	7,016,270	3
14	Arkansas	$63,203	$48,000	3,004,279	2
15	Michigan	$65,249	$49,000	9,962,311	0
16	California	$71,599	$50,000	39,536,653	14
17	Maryland	$67,032	$48,000	6,052,177	8
18	Texas	$64,062	$46,000	28,304,596	15
19	Vermont	$66,291	$48,000	623,657	0
20	Montana	$61,217	$49,000	1,050,493	5
21	Connecticut	$67,130	$48,000	3,588,184	0
22	Kansas	$60,907	$46,000	2,913,123	8
23	Maine	$60,822	$44,000	1,335,907	4
24	Illinois	$65,289	$49,000	12,802,023	5
25	Oklahoma	$62,182	$47,000	3,930,864	2
26	Washington	$66,657	$50,000	7,405,743	0
27	Idaho	$63,163	$47,000	1,716,943	1
28	South Dakota	$59,889	$47,000	869,666	2
29	Nebraska	$62,833	$48,000	1,920,076	0
30	Delaware	$65,571	$46,000	961,939	0
31	Alabama	$58,413	$43,000	4,874,747	10
32	Wisconsin	$61,308	$47,000	5,795,483	3
33	Louisiana	$58,125	$42,000	4,684,333	8
34	Massachusetts	$63,609	$45,000	6,859,819	2
35	District of Columbia	$64,458	$46,000	693,972	0
36	Pennsylvania	$58,542	$42,000	12,805,537	3
37	Indiana	$56,220	$42,000	6,666,818	4
38	Mississippi	$55,748	$41,000	2,984,100	3
39	Florida	$59,721	$41,000	20,984,400	5
40	Ohio	$54,765	$40,000	11,658,609	15
41	New Jersey	$59,053	$42,000	9,005,644	3
42	Hawaii	$60,146	$52,000	1,427,538	0
43	Georgia	$54,485	$40,000	10,429,379	8
44	New York	$57,514	$41,000	19,849,399	6
45	West Virginia	$52,051	$38,000	1,815,857	3
46	Colorado	$51,741	$39,000	5,607,154	14
47	Tennessee	$55,139	$41,000	6,715,984	0
48	Kentucky	$55,449	$41,000	4,454,189	0
49	Virginia	$56,549	$40,000	8,470,020	2
50	North Carolina	$54,678	$39,000	10,273,419	2
51	South Carolina	$53,635	$38,000	5,024,369	0

Highest paying states for conductors

Rank	State	Avg. Conductor Salary
1	Iowa	$73,476
2	Oregon	$77,889
3	Wyoming	$67,547
4	Utah	$72,459
5	North Dakota	$72,712
6	Nevada	$70,452
7	Minnesota	$68,265
8	New Mexico	$65,213
9	New Hampshire	$66,897
10	Alaska	$75,694
11	Rhode Island	$67,410
12	Missouri	$66,137
13	Arizona	$65,592
14	Arkansas	$63,203
15	Michigan	$65,249
16	California	$71,599
17	Maryland	$67,032
18	Texas	$64,062
19	Vermont	$66,291
20	Montana	$61,217
21	Connecticut	$67,130
22	Kansas	$60,907
23	Maine	$60,822
24	Illinois	$65,289
25	Oklahoma	$62,182
26	Washington	$66,657
27	Idaho	$63,163
28	South Dakota	$59,889
29	Nebraska	$62,833
30	Delaware	$65,571
31	Alabama	$58,413
32	Wisconsin	$61,308
33	Louisiana	$58,125
34	Massachusetts	$63,609
35	District of Columbia	$64,458
36	Pennsylvania	$58,542
37	Indiana	$56,220
38	Mississippi	$55,748
39	Florida	$59,721
40	Ohio	$54,765
41	New Jersey	$59,053
42	Hawaii	$60,146
43	Georgia	$54,485
44	New York	$57,514
45	West Virginia	$52,051
46	Colorado	$51,741
47	Tennessee	$55,139
48	Kentucky	$55,449
49	Virginia	$56,549
50	North Carolina	$54,678
51	South Carolina	$53,635

Best states for a conductor

10 best states for conductors in 2025

1. Iowa

2. Oregon

3. Wyoming

4. Utah

5. North Dakota

6. Nevada

7. Minnesota

8. New Mexico

9. New Hampshire

10. Alaska

Conductor jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a conductor

Detailed list of the best states for a conductor

Highest paying states for conductors

Conductor best states FAQs

What is the best state for conductors?

What is the highest paying state for conductors?

What is the worst state for conductors?

Search for conductor jobs

Total conductor jobs:	8
Average annual salary:	$73,476
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$56,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$95,000
Location Quotient:	3.3