Shigoto Zukan
日本語

Will AI replace railroad conductors and yardmasters?AI replacement risk 45% and how the work is changing

United States Transportation Confidence ★★★★★

Median annual pay
$78,000
25th–75th pct. $65,610–$83,820
Top pay (est.)
$142,700
Top 10% $109,770
Pay in 5 years
$89,900est.
2031
Pay in 10 years
$103,600est.
$89,100–$120,300
Outlook score
40/100
★★☆☆☆ Below average
AI replacement risk
45%
Moderate
Job growth (10 yr)
+0.9%
3,000 openings / yr

Will AI replace Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters? AI replacement risk

45%
Moderate
Ranked #442 safest from AI among all U.S. occupations
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

How AI is changing this job

A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.

AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →

Skills, education and requirements for Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

Key skills

Monitoring
4.0
Coordination
3.9
Critical Thinking
3.6
Time Management
3.5
Management of Personnel Resources
3.5
Complex Problem Solving
3.4
Reading Comprehension
3.2
Operations Monitoring
3.1

O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).

Key knowledge areas

Transportation
4.1
Public Safety and Security
4.0
Education and Training
3.5
Mechanical
3.2
Customer and Personal Service
3.2
English Language
2.9
Computers and Electronics
2.9
Psychology
2.7

What the work involves

Handling and Moving ObjectsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesGetting InformationOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsControlling Machines and ProcessesCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials

Important abilities

Oral ExpressionOral ComprehensionFar VisionAuditory AttentionDeductive ReasoningProblem Sensitivity

Education of workers

High school diploma
86%
Post-secondary certificate
8%
Associate's degree
6%

Training before entry

3–6 months
41%
6–12 months
21%
1–2 years
13%
1–3 months
12%
Up to 1 month
9%
None / short demo
4%

Related work experience

None
70%
1–2 years
11%
2–4 years
8%
6–12 months
6%
Up to 1 month
5%

Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)

Difficulty of entry: ★☆☆☆☆ Easy to enter (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)

Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data
Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35; O*NET 31.0 Database by USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0), modified by Shigoto Zukan. Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.