How to Become a Railroad Worker in 2024
A high school diploma or its equivalent is typically required of workers in the railroad industry, in addition to several months of training on the job.
Know about How to Become a Railroad Worker
To educate
Railroad employers frequently stipulate that their staff members hold a high school diploma or equivalent. On the other hand, employers might give hiring preference to candidates who have completed some post-secondary education, whether in the form of classes, certificates, or an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
The train
Before they can operate trains independently, locomotive engineers typically receive at least three months’ worth of training on the job.
In most cases, trainees will accompany an experienced engineer on rides during this phase of their education. In addition, railway companies offer their engineers continuing education opportunities so that they can keep their skills current.
Most railroad companies provide conductors and station managers with on-the-job training that lasts up to a year. Their training programs are operated by Amtrak, which is the passenger train company, in addition to some of the larger freight railroad companies.
Their employers might send conductors from local and regional railroads to a central training facility or a community college. It is possible for the field manager to participate in a training program or to receive instruction from an experienced field manager.
On-the-job training is also provided to rail yard engineers and signal and switch operators, and the respective companies’ training programs typically provide it. Depending on the company and the degree of difficulty of the work, the duration of the program could range anywhere from a few weeks to several months.
Instruction in the classroom and hands-on experience gained under the guidance of knowledgeable staff members may be a component of the program.
Work experience in a field that is pertinent to the position
Most locomotive engineers begin their careers as conductors or station managers and stay in those roles for several years.
Obtaining Permission to Operate, Certification, and Registration
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) mandates certification for all locomotive engineers, conductors, and other railroad workers. The certification that they receive from the railway that employs them includes the following:
- A test of one’s written-down knowledge.
- A test of your abilities.
A supervisor determines whether or not an engineer or conductor is familiar with the physical aspects of the specific route they will be operating on.
Engineers who switch routes are required to recertify themselves for the new route. Engineers and conductors who do not shift their focus are subject to periodic recertification requirements.
At the end of the certification process, engineers must pass their vision and hearing tests.
Conductors who work for national, regional, or commuter railroads must also have certification to operate their trains. New conductors need to demonstrate that they can complete a test that has been developed and given by the railroad and one that the FRA has approved.
In addition, workers in the railroad industry need to be at least 21 years old and pass a criminal history check. They are subjected to unpredictable tests for both drug use and alcohol consumption while they are on the job.
A step forward
Railyard engineers, switch operators, and signal operators have the potential to advance their careers to become conductors or yard managers.
Qualities that are essential
The ability to communicate. To maintain punctuality and safety, workers on the railroad must be able to effectively communicate with other crew members, dispatchers, and passengers.
Skills in providing service to customers. On passenger trains, the conductor ensures passenger comfort, makes announcements, and answers questions. They must have good manners and be patient, especially when dealing with passengers who are disruptive or upset.
Coordination between the hands and eyes. When operating the train’s controls, locomotive engineers must rely partly on their observations of the area around the train.
A hearing capacity. Rail workers are required to have the ability to hear warning signs and communicate with one another to maintain the safety of trains and rail yards.
Taking the lead. Conductors are in charge of directing the crew on some trains. The station master is in charge of overseeing the other employees at the railway yard.
Abilities relating to mechanics. If a piece of railroad equipment isn’t functioning properly, workers on the railroad should be able to adjust it. Repairing broken machinery and carrying out routine mechanical checks can take up the majority of time for certain types of rail yard engineers.
Power on a physical level. Engineers who work in rail yards sometimes have to move heavy machinery.
Capacity of seeing. To operate a locomotive, engineers need to have excellent peripheral vision and color vision.
Job opportunity
It is anticipated that overall employment of railroad workers will increase by only 5% from 2020 to 2030, which is lower than the average growth projection for all occupations.
Despite the slow employment growth, it is anticipated that there will be approximately 7,000 job openings per year in the railroad industry over the next ten years.
Most job openings are anticipated to be filled due to the requirement to replace workers who transition to new jobs or leave the labor force for reasons such as retirement.
Obtaining a Job
The rebound from the COVID-19 recession, which started in 2020 and is expected to occur in the early 2000s, is responsible for a significant portion of the projected job growth in these occupations.
Demand for some railroad workers will likely increase due to an increase in intermodal transport, which refers to the movement of goods using multiple modes of transport.
On the other hand, because there is a lower demand for the transportation of goods like coal, railroads are likely to reduce their workforce to improve their operational effectiveness.
There is likely a decrease in demand for the transportation of coal via rail as power plants move toward using natural gas as an alternative to coal to generate electricity.
Pay
The median annual wage for railroad workers was $64,150 in May 2021. The median salary for an occupation is the salary at which half of the workers make more money than that amount, and the other half make less money than that amount. The lowest-earning ten percent made less than $48,510, while the highest-earning ten percent made more than $82,670.
The following is a list of the median annual wages for workers in the railway industry in May 2021:
- $79,740 per year for Locomotive Engineer
- Railroad station agents and conductors (63,960), Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators, as well as locomotive firefighters (63,840)
- 61,090 individuals employed as rail yard engineers, small operators, and ushers
- The following table presents, for May 2021, the median annual wages of railway workers across the major industries in which they were employed:
- Transportation by rail – 64,210 dollars
- 64 170 people work for the local government, excluding schools and hospitals.
Because trains operate around the clock, seven days a week, the shifts that railroad workers must work can include nights, weekends, and even holidays.
Most are employed full-time, and some work more than 40 hours weekly. Train operators are required to have a minimum rest period by federal regulations.
Locomotive engineers and conductors working on long train journeys will likely spend significant time away from home. The work schedules of those employed on passenger trains that travel shorter distances are typically more stable. The schedules of the employees working on certain freight trains need to be more consistent.
Who works the most hours on shifts for engineers and commanders is frequently determined by seniority, which is measured in years of service.
Temporary workers include some engineers and conductors, and they are hired for short-term work only when the railway requires additional or replacement staff on a route. Temporary workers are also known as contract workers.
