How to hire a conductor

How to hire a conductor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step conductor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a conductor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new conductor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a conductor do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The conductor hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a conductor to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a conductor that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of conductors.

   Type of Conductor	Description	Hourly rate
   Conductor	Workers in railroad occupations ensure that passenger and freight trains run on time and travel safely. Some workers drive trains, some coordinate the activities of the trains, and others operate signals and switches in the rail yard.	$19-39
   Switchman	The job of a switchman is to operate the track switches for railroads. Your day-to-day duties typically include operating the brakes and switches, attaching and detaching freight cars, and conducting a routine inspection of important train parts... Show more	$18-38

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Switches
   • Electrical Connections
   • Locomotives
   • Conductors
   • FRA
   • Field Training
   • Hand Signals
   • Federal Safety Rules
   • Hazardous Materials
   • Radio Signals
   • Hazmat
   • Train Cars
   • Federal Regulations
   • Radio Communications

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Provide excellent leadership by training new conductors in railroad rules and regulations, while simultaneously managing the train yard.
   • Manage all commodities, crew, safety, and efficient delivery of each assign train and while following strict FRA guidelines.
   • Review and verify the train paperwork and train lists are accurate and in accordance with HAZMAT and other federal regulations.
   • Claim ladders to tops of cars to set brakes, make minor repairs to couplings air hoses, using have tools.
   • Qualify RCL operator and instructor.
   • Service customers including Paxon, Rhodia and Exxon.

   More conductor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your conductor job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A conductor can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, conductors' average salary in colorado is 34% less than in oregon.
   • Seniority. Entry-level conductors 51% less than senior-level conductors.
   • Certifications. A conductor with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a conductor's salary.

   Average conductor salary

   $58,690yearly

   $28.22 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level conductor salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average conductor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Oregon	$77,719	$37
   2	Iowa	$73,958	$36
   3	North Dakota	$73,061	$35
   4	California	$69,815	$34
   5	Minnesota	$68,280	$33
   6	Washington	$67,405	$32
   7	Missouri	$66,010	$32
   8	Texas	$65,909	$32
   9	Arizona	$65,606	$32
   10	Illinois	$65,386	$31
   11	Michigan	$65,245	$31
   12	Nebraska	$62,775	$30
   13	Montana	$61,232	$29
   14	Kansas	$60,908	$29
   15	South Dakota	$60,388	$29
   16	Florida	$59,814	$29
   17	New Jersey	$59,265	$28
   18	New York	$57,552	$28
   19	Indiana	$56,577	$27
   20	Kentucky	$55,767	$27

   Average conductor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Barclays	$93,914	$45.15
   2	Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group	$77,724	$37.37
   3	BNSF Railway	$75,945	$36.51	6
   4	Genesee & Wyoming	$75,501	$36.30	40
   5	Canadian Pacific Railway	$73,388	$35.28	17
   6	Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra	$70,789	$34.03
   7	Lowry Solutions	$68,463	$32.91
   8	Kansas City Southern	$67,941	$32.66
   9	Norfolk Southern	$67,709	$32.55	10
   10	Northrop Grumman	$67,084	$32.25	2
   11	OmniTRAX	$65,938	$31.70
   12	Ryder System	$65,464	$31.47
   13	Advance Auto Parts	$65,223	$31.36
   14	Baltimore Symphony Orchestra	$64,184	$30.86
   15	World Fuel Services	$60,283	$28.98
   16	Herzog Contracting	$59,293	$28.51
   17	Samsung Electronics Device Solutions (Semiconductor & Display)	$58,667	$28.21
   18	Torc Robotics	$58,416	$28.08
   19	Mstar	$56,320	$27.08
   20	The People's Music School	$56,202	$27.02

4. Writing a conductor job description

   A job description for a conductor role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a conductor job description:

   Conductor job description example

   Reporting to the Trainmaster, the employee will have to perform yard work such as switching cars, making or splitting up the trains, moving the cars, etc. The employee will be a member of a train crew that will perform work in the rail yards or travel to various locations with the train.
   RESPONSIBILITIES
   
   + Manages and controls the movements of the cars by using lantern, hand and/or flag signals or radio to indicate when to start, stop, back-up or set or release air brakes
   
   + Operates track switches (visually checks switch condition and direction) to change the direction of the engine or cars within yard limits or on the main railroad; may apply or release hand brakes to switch or perform other duties
   
   + Follows the lists of work, respecting the order of those cars (block the trains)
   
   + Collects the release sheets (ex: rail passage authorization)
   
   + Prepares required daily reports and switch lists, manually or with a computer by filling out forms
   
   + Inspects the condition of the train and equipment in movement and while stationary
   
   + Follows and complies with the various rules, railroad safety procedure and standards of the FRA.
   
   + Interacts with the railway authorities
   
   + Other related tasks
   
   REQUIREMENTS
   
   + High school diploma or GED
   
   + Qualified conductor (asset)
   
   + Able to adapt to different situations: work schedule, being on call, over time, tasks to accomplish, etc.
   
   + Must be prepared to work on call 24/7, weekends, shifts
   
   + Must be prepared to work in adverse weather conditions
   
   + Must be able to work away from home
   
   + Able to communicate effectively orally and in writing
   
   + Good interpersonal skills
   
   OTHER WORKING CONDITIONS:
   
   + Vacation, benefits and paid holidays are based on the company's policies.
   
   PRE-EMPLOYMENT EVALUATIONS:
   
   + The successful candidate will be required to undergo a full medical and drug evaluation as well as criminal background check and psychometric testing before hire.
   
   This position is employed by the specific entity set forth in the job posting.Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and its subsidiary companies do not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or any other protected status under federal, state or local laws.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find conductors for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any conductors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level conductors with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your conductor job on Zippia to find and recruit conductor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting conductors requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new conductor

   Once you've selected the best conductor candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new conductor. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a conductor?