Switchman vs yard conductor

The differences between switchmen and yard conductors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a switchman has an average salary of $57,143, which is higher than the $54,357 average annual salary of a yard conductor.

The top three skills for a switchman include switches, ladders and rail cars. The most important skills for a yard conductor are hand signals, , and .

Switchman vs yard conductor overview

	Switchman	Yard Conductor
Yearly salary	$57,143	$54,357
Hourly rate	$27.47	$26.13
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	518	4,094
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 47%	High School Diploma, 40%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	-	-

Switchman vs yard conductor salary

Switchmen and yard conductors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Switchman	Yard Conductor
Average salary	$57,143	$54,357
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $81,000	Between $39,000 And $74,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between switchman and yard conductor education

There are a few differences between a switchman and a yard conductor in terms of educational background:

	Switchman	Yard Conductor
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 47%	High School Diploma, 40%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Switchman vs yard conductor demographics

Here are the differences between switchmen' and yard conductors' demographics:

	Switchman	Yard Conductor
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 95.4% Female, 4.6%	Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 2.0% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% Asian, 1.9% White, 75.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between switchman and yard conductor duties and responsibilities

Switchman example responsibilities.

Manage daily inspections and audits of locomotives.
Complete safety training and follow all FRA safety regulations on a daily basis.
Operate track switches, couple cars, and work on freight trains in yard operations and on the road.
Qualify in GCOR, HAZMAT, OSHA, EPA and ODOT regulations.
Train & supervise various employees to be safe and knowledgeable conductors.
Process and evaluate train documents to assure compliance with FRA and company guidelines.

Yard conductor example responsibilities.

Manage all commodities, crew, safety, and efficient delivery of each assign train and while following strict FRA guidelines.
Perform hostler operations of operating locomotives between various shop locations, service tracks and switching areas.
Qualify on all NORAC rules and physical characteristics of the regional territory.

Switchman vs yard conductor skills

Common switchman skills

Switches, 27%
Ladders, 19%
Rail Cars, 12%
Air Hoses, 11%
Locomotives, 7%
Electrical Connections, 5%

Common yard conductor skills

Hand Signals, 100%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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