Railroad conductor demographics and statistics in the US
Railroad conductor demographics research summary. Zippia estimates railroad conductor demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our railroad conductor estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about railroad conductors after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 34,525 railroad conductors currently employed in the United States.
- 5.2% of all railroad conductors are women, while 94.8% are men.
- The average railroad conductor age is 45 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of railroad conductors is White (72.4%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (11.1%), Black or African American (8.8%) and Unknown (4.8%).
- In 2022, women earned 100% of what men earned.
- 7% of all railroad conductors are LGBT.
- Railroad conductors are 72% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Railroad conductor demographics by:
Railroad conductor gender statistics
5.2% of railroad conductors are women and 94.8% of railroad conductors are men.
- Male, 94.8%
- Female, 5.2%
Railroad conductor gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 94.8% |
| Female | 5.2% |
Railroad conductor gender pay gap
Women earn 100¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$55,410
Female income
$55,250
Railroad conductor gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in railroad conductor positions over time. Currently, 5.2% of railroad conductors are female.
Railroad conductor gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 94.68% | 5.32% |
| 2011 | 95.03% | 4.97% |
| 2012 | 96.43% | 3.57% |
| 2013 | 95.92% | 4.08% |
| 2014 | 96.40% | 3.60% |
| 2015 | 95.80% | 4.20% |
| 2016 | 95.48% | 4.52% |
| 2017 | 95.05% | 4.95% |
| 2018 | 95.26% | 4.74% |
| 2019 | 95.01% | 4.99% |
| 2020 | 96.67% | 3.33% |
| 2021 | 94.81% | 5.19% |
Railroad conductor related jobs gender ratio
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Railroad Conductor | 95% | 5% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Railroad conductor demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among railroad conductors is White, which makes up 72.4% of all railroad conductors. Comparatively, 11.1% of railroad conductors are Hispanic or Latino and 8.8% of railroad conductors are Black or African American.
- White, 72.4%
- Hispanic or Latino, 11.1%
- Black or African American, 8.8%
- Unknown, 4.8%
- Asian, 2.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
Railroad conductor race
| Railroad conductor race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 72.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 11.1% |
| Black or African American | 8.8% |
| Unknown | 4.8% |
| Asian | 2.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.9% |
Railroad conductor race and ethnicity over time
See how railroad conductor racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Railroad conductor race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 76.84% | 13.30% | 0.68% | 7.29% |
| 2011 | 76.56% | 11.44% | 0.62% | 8.81% |
| 2012 | 77.65% | 11.33% | 0.45% | 9.17% |
| 2013 | 76.51% | 10.80% | 0.76% | 8.95% |
| 2014 | 76.26% | 11.23% | 1.08% | 9.66% |
| 2015 | 79.17% | 8.96% | 0.25% | 9.06% |
| 2016 | 76.00% | 10.99% | 1.00% | 10.08% |
| 2017 | 75.18% | 11.69% | 0.82% | 9.62% |
| 2018 | 74.74% | 12.04% | 1.16% | 11.04% |
| 2019 | 73.61% | 10.15% | 0.60% | 12.44% |
| 2020 | 68.37% | 12.96% | 0.58% | 12.84% |
| 2021 | 72.40% | 8.75% | 2.03% | 11.11% |
Railroad conductor wage gap by race
According to our data, white railroad conductors have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Hispanic or latino railroad conductors have the lowest average salary at $54,021.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $54,561 |
| White | $59,111 |
| Black or African American | $54,088 |
| Asian | $55,430 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $54,021 |
Average railroad conductor age
See how the average age of railroad conductors varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Railroad conductor age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 45 | |
| White | 46 | |
| Black or African American | 46 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 42 |
Railroad conductor age breakdown
The average age of railroad conductors is 40+ years years old, representing 67% of the railroad conductor population.
Railroad conductor age breakdown
| Railroad Conductor Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 67% |
| 30-40 years | 29% |
| 20-30 years | 5% |
Railroad conductor educational attainment
The most common degree for railroad conductors is high school diploma, with 36% of railroad conductors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 24% and bachelor's degree degree at 21%.
- High School Diploma, 36%
- Bachelor's, 24%
- Associate, 21%
- Diploma, 8%
- Other Degrees, 11%
Railroad conductors by degree level
| Railroad conductor degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 36% |
| Bachelor's | 24% |
| Associate | 21% |
| Diploma | 8% |
| Other Degrees | 11% |
Railroad conductor jobs you might like
Railroad conductor employment statistics
Most railroad conductors work for a private in the transportation industry.
Company size where railroad conductors work
Below, you can see the size of companies where railroad conductors work.
Railroad conductor jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 13% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 17% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 14% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 31% |
| > 10,000 employees | 19% |
Railroad conductor jobs by company type
Employees with the railroad conductor job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most railroad conductors prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Railroad conductor jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 21% |
| Private | 72% |
| Government | 6% |
Railroad conductor jobs by industry
The most common industries for railroad conductors are transportation, manufacturing and construction.
Railroad conductor industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Transportation | 46% |
| Fortune 500 | 10% |
| Manufacturing | 7% |
| Construction | 7% |
| Government | 4% |
| Real Estate | 4% |
| Media | 3% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Technology | 3% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Professional | 3% |
| Agriculture | 3% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Health Care | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
Railroad conductor turnover and employment statistics
Railroad conductor unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for railroad conductors between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Railroad conductor unemployment rate by year
| Year | Railroad conductor unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 6.18% |
| 2011 | 2.10% |
| 2012 | 2.60% |
| 2013 | 1.63% |
| 2014 | 1.78% |
| 2015 | 3.18% |
| 2016 | 3.59% |
| 2017 | 2.53% |
| 2018 | 2.92% |
| 2019 | 1.81% |
| 2020 | 4.20% |
| 2021 | 7.18% |
Average railroad conductor tenure
The average railroad conductor stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 423 railroad conductors resumes in Zippia's database.
Railroad conductor tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 18% |
| 1-2 years | 26% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 18% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 18% |
Railroad conductor LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of railroad conductors that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Valet Attendant | 3.71% | 45,768 |
| Lead Packer | 4.53% | 17,228 |
| Detailer | 4.91% | 6,789 |
| Railroad Conductor | 7.36% | - |
| Train Engineer | 8.64% | 21,639 |
| Ship Steward | 15.05% | 42,173 |
| Flight Attendant | 31.52% | 45,878 |
Similar railroad conductor jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Valet Attendant | 3.71% | 45,768 |
| Lead Packer | 4.53% | 17,228 |
| Detailer | 4.91% | 6,789 |
| Train Engineer | 8.64% | 21,639 |
| Ship Steward | 15.05% | 42,173 |
| Flight Attendant | 31.52% | 45,878 |
Foreign languages spoken by railroad conductors
The most common foreign language among railroad conductors is German at 33.3%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 33.3% and Italian is the third-most popular at 33.3%.
- German, 33.3%
- French, 33.3%
- Italian, 33.3%
Railroad conductor languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| German | 33.3% |
| French | 33.3% |
| Italian | 33.3% |
