SOC 53-4031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters — Illinois
Illinois · 1 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $79,820 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $78,000.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $79,820 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $78,000. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $76,980 and $96,120. The lowest tenth earn under $63,290, while the highest tenth earn more than $134,440.
The area has 2,790 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.53 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Illinois ranks number 8th out of 33 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Chicago records the highest median at $96,120. Of the 747 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 231st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $63,290 | −18.9% |
| 25th | $76,980 | −1.3% |
| Median (50th) | $79,820 | +2.3% |
| 75th | $96,120 | +23.2% |
| 90th | $134,440 | +72.4% |
| Mean | $89,110 | +14.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $96,120 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Illinois sit close to the national average, so $79,820 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$79,820as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$79,820US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $79,820 a year, 2.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $63,290 to $134,440 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,790 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 8th of 33 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chicago, at $96,120.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters in Illinois?
The median annual wage is $79,820, or $38.38 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $78,000, so pay in Illinois is 2.3% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Illinois earns more than $134,440 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $63,290 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Chicago, at $96,120 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,790 jobs in this occupation in Illinois. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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