Are you on the lookout for a career that allows you to travel, and work with people, and doesn’t require many years of education? A train conductor job could be a career for you. In this article, you’ll learn all about how to become a train conductor, the average salary, and the key skills necessary to embark on this career.
What Is a Train Conductor?
Train conductors are railroad workers in charge of coordinating operations and crews on trains carrying both passengers and freight. These professionals are crucial to maintaining smooth daily activities in train travel, guaranteeing safety and a timely schedule along the entire journey.
Train conductors generally work full-time on a 40-hour schedule. Due to the nature of the transportation industry, it’s common for these employees to work on shifts that cover overnight and weekends as well.
What Does a Train Conductor Do?
Before diving into how to become a train conductor, it’s important to clarify what responsibilities you’d have in this role. Here are the main tasks of railroad conductors:
- Check passengers’ tickets and take payments when needed.
- Monitor and report any safety or comfort issues with the interior of the carriages.
- Assist passengers during the travel, including locating onboard facilities.
- Oversee passenger onboarding and exiting to maintain order and safety.
- Inform passengers of upcoming stops.
- Ensure laws and regulations are constantly respected.
- Following procedures established by the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) regulation.
- Coordinate train activities with locomotive engineers, railroad engineers, yardmasters, and other railroad workers.
How to Become a Train Conductor
To become a train conductor, you first need to meet the minimum requirements, which are:
- possessing at least a high school diploma or equivalent
- being 21 years old or over
- passing a background check and, once hired, arbitrary drug and alcohol screenings
If you meet all the above, you’ll qualify for train conductor schools. These are on-the-job training programs lasting around 12 months and operated by railroad companies themselves.
Alternatively, community colleges also offer programs directed at aspiring train conductors to offer all the necessary technical and practical education, including all the safety aspects of the field. The last step in becoming a train conductor is getting certified by passing the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) exam.
Train conductors must also demonstrate certain character traits and soft skills, such as:
- customer service skills
- excellent communication
- attention to detail
- problem-solving
- teamwork
- flexibility
How Much Do a Train Conductors Make?
The average train conductor’s salary in the U.S. is $42,010 a year but can stretch up to $82,460. In fact, your wage will vary based on your education, experience, employer, specific Collective Bargaining Agreement, and location. The states in which railroad conductors earn the most are:
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- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- North Carolina
- Indiana
- Georgia
Similarly, the top-paying metro area in the country for train conductor jobs is the New York-Newark-Jersey City triangle. Therefore, we can expect that an Amtrak train conductor salary and an MTA train conductor salary to be on the higher end of the scale, since these are the companies operating in this area.
This guide on how to become a train conductor isn’t complete without a train conductor’s salary estimate for your city. To find out, simply check out Monster's Salary Calculator. This tool will also show you salary comparisons, such as train engineer vs conductor and even the next possible steps to take to progress in your career.
How to Find Train Conductor Jobs
Obtaining all the necessary education and certifications is only the first step in finding your ideal train conductor job. The real game begins once you take the plunge into the job market. For this, your most powerful tool is a well-written resume. Let’s go through some of the most important resume writing practices you should always follow for the best results.
- First, keep your resume simple and easy to read. To do so, use well-separated paragraphs, appropriate spacing, bullet points, and bold text. It might seem counterintuitive but the faster a recruiter can go through your document, the higher the chance of them reading it all.
- Then, always adapt your resume for every company you apply to. You don’t need to rewrite your document completely, but simply add clear references to the role and the firm you’re addressing.
- Finally, prepare a cover letter, even when not specifically requested. Explain why you are the right fit and what would you bring to the table if hired.
Where Does a Train Conductor Work?
In your journey to learning how to become a train conductor, it’s a good idea to look into where such a job is most in demand. Luckily, train conductor roles are available across the U.S. and are offered by seven main national companies and many more local ones. Some of the most well-known include:
- Amtrak
- MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority)
- BNSF Railway
- Union Pacific
- CSX Transportation
- Norfolk Southern Railway
- Kansas City Southern Railway
However, if you want to have an easier time finding your first job, you can start in the states with the highest level of employment for railroad conductors, which are:
- New York
- Texas
- Illinois
- Pennsylvania
- Georgia
When it comes to metro areas, New York is not only the best paid but also has the highest number of opportunities.
Move Forward in Your Career Faster with Monster’s Guidance
Now that we addressed every detail about how to become a train conductor, start your journey to find the best job for you. Set up a free candidate profile on Monster and upload your resume. Activate the customized job alerts, and we’ll send you all the latest relevant job listings to you. Plus, as a Monster member, every partner recruiter and company looking for new hires we’ll be able to contact you directly with new opportunities.
