Railroad Operations Salary in the United States

How much does a Railroad Operations make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Railroad Operations in the United States is $63,809 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.

However, a Railroad Operations's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $74,676
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $59,991 to $69,497
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $56,515
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View as table View as graph 25% $59,991 10% $56,515 90% $74,676 75% $69,497 $63,809 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Railroad Operations Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $69,497 $5,791 $1,336 $33
Average $63,809 $5,317 $1,227 $31
25th Percentile $59,991 $4,999 $1,154 $29
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Key Factors That Influence Railroad Operations Salaries

A Railroad Operations's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Railroad Operations Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Railroad Operations's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $63,390
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $77,857
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $94,774
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $120,077
  • Expert (over 8 years): $152,604
Levels Salary
Railroad ... Level Railroad Operations$63,390
Risk Anal... Level Railroad Operations$77,857
Risk Anal... Level Railroad Operations$94,774
Risk Anal... Level Railroad Operations$120,077
Risk Anal... Level Railroad Operations$152,604
$63,390 0 yr
$77,857 < 2 yrs
$94,774 2-4 yrs
$120,077 5-8 yrs
$152,604 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Railroad Operations

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $80,482
  • San Francisco: $79,691
  • Oakland: $77,923

What Skills Can Increase a Railroad Operations's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Risk Management (Mentioned in 9.82% Job Postings): Risk management is the identification, evaluation, and prioritization of risks (defined in ISO 31000 as the effect of uncertainty on objectives) followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability or impact of unfortunate events or to maximize the realization of opportunities. Risks can come from various sources including uncertainty in financial markets, threats from project failures (at any phase in design, development, production, or sustainment life-cycles), legal liabilities, credit risk, accidents, natural causes and disasters, deliberate attack from an adversary, or events of uncertain or unpredictable root-cause. There are two types of events i.e. negative events can be classified as risks while positive events are classified as opportunities. Several risk management standards have been developed including the Project Management Institute, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, actuarial societies, and ISO standards. Methods, definitions and goals vary widely according to whether the risk management method is in the context of project management, security, engineering, industrial processes, financial portfolios, actuarial assessments, or public health and safety.
  • Loss Prevention (Mentioned in 2.43% Job Postings): Loss prevention refers to measures taken to prevent the loss of life, health, and property. In the workplace, this involves preventing accidents, reducing risks, and controlling known hazards.
  • Information Security (Mentioned in 0.96% Job Postings): A practice of preventing unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, inspection, recording, or destruction of confidential, private, and sensitive information.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Risk Management 9.82%
Loss Prevention 2.43%
Information Security 0.96%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Railroad Operations's salary.
  • Environmental Compliance: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Business Statistics: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Retail Banking: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Environmental Compliance
$71,466
12%
Business Statistics
$70,828
11%
Retail Banking
$69,551
9%
Partnering
$68,275
7%
Effective Communication
$68,275
7%
Regulatory Environment
$67,637
6%
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How Education impacts a Railroad Operations's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Railroad Operations enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Railroad Operations with a Bachelor's Degree is between $60,673 and $65,063).

Railroad Operations Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Railroad Operations
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 5.6%
High School 5.6%
Associates 3.0%
Bachelors 59.9%
Masters 28.9%
Doctorate 2.5%
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Railroad Operations Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Railroad Operations's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Railroad Operations

Salaries for a Railroad Operations can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $65,526 in 2023 to around $64,657 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Railroad Operations salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Railroad Operations Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$65,526
2024
$65,053
2025
$64,657
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $65,526
2024 $65,053
2025 $64,657
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Railroad Operations

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Railroad Operations

Here are companies hiring for Railroad Operations and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Railroad Operations Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Railroad Operations job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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