help me decipher this conductor hourly pay rate

[John Prophet]

Im looking at this conductor job. says it pays "$201,000" year

So I am trying to break that down

Here is the other little blurb:

BASIC DAY FULL (100%) HOURLY RATES OF PAY: Conductor (CO) / Engineer (EN)

Yard Service – CO $203.52 / EN $209.60
Through Freight – CO $181.60 / EN $200.88
Local Freight – CO $182.16 / EN $201.44


So im assuming that means $203/day? How does that equate to $200k?

200/day x 5 days = 1000. 1000x52 weeks = $52k

obviously it wouldnt be $200/hour....so what am I missing?

[-=FLEX=-]

Im looking at this conductor job. says it pays "$201,000" year

So I am trying to break that down

Here is the other little blurb:

BASIC DAY FULL (100%) HOURLY RATES OF PAY: Conductor (CO) / Engineer (EN)

Yard Service – CO $203.52 / EN $209.60
Through Freight – CO $181.60 / EN $200.88
Local Freight – CO $182.16 / EN $201.44


So im assuming that means $203/day? How does that equate to $200k?

200/day x 5 days = 1000. 1000x52 weeks = $52k

obviously it wouldnt be $200/hour....so what am I missing?

It says those rates are HOURLY, not daily.

That equates to abou $400k/year.

Perhaps that is for occasional work and not full-time salary?

[whatevergirl]

Im looking at this conductor job. says it pays "$201,000" year

So I am trying to break that down

Here is the other little blurb:

BASIC DAY FULL (100%) HOURLY RATES OF PAY: Conductor (CO) / Engineer (EN)

Yard Service – CO $203.52 / EN $209.60
Through Freight – CO $181.60 / EN $200.88
Local Freight – CO $182.16 / EN $201.44


So im assuming that means $203/day? How does that equate to $200k?

200/day x 5 days = 1000. 1000x52 weeks = $52k

obviously it wouldnt be $200/hour....so what am I missing?

most likely, a typo. even at 12 hour days, 52 weeks, no vacations, it doesn't compute. even if they're adding in benefits? it still doesn't compute, as it doesn't cost any employer $100k per employee for benefits. not sure.

[John Prophet]

makes more sense for a daily pay rate because in looking elsewhere I see the job pays between 50-75k/yr

[danno25nh]

From the bureau of Labor Statistics:


Subway and streetcar operators $25.59
Railroad conductors and yardmasters 25.40
Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators 22.94
Locomotive engineers and operators 22.54
Rail transportation workers, all other 21.12


$203.52/8 = $25.44. Pretty much right in line with the numbers above. I'd guess you don't walk in the door as a conductor and that seniority is a big deal for jobs.

[John Prophet]

From the bureau of Labor Statistics:


Subway and streetcar operators $25.59
Railroad conductors and yardmasters 25.40
Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators 22.94
Locomotive engineers and operators 22.54
Rail transportation workers, all other 21.12


$203.52/8 = $25.44. Pretty much right in line with the numbers above. I'd guess you don't walk in the door as a conductor and that seniority is a big deal for jobs.

not sure how that works, but just from 5 minutes of looking at the description, it seems that engineer is the next step above conductor. So why do those stats show conductor making more than engineer?


I was under the impression that conductor was the entry level job. If I was 24 I might be all over it. Being 44 im not sure, lol. Not sure if theyd even hire an "old dude" like me

https://www1.recruitingcenter.net/cl...=14771&esid=az

Job Description:

DUTIES: Conductor Trainees operate track switches, couple cars and work on freight trains in yard operations and on the road with heavy travel. You must be able to lift 80 lbs., as required when replacing knuckles that connect rail cars. This involves strenuous, outside work in all weather conditions and requires extensive travel. The conductor trainee operates track switches by moving a lever that moves sections of track to properly place railcars, couples cars, and works assembling freight trains in rail yard operations performing various duties involving moving and aligning various parts of rail equipment to create or build trains. You must be able to perform several tasks safely that will require pulling, controlling and maneuvering onto and off of equipment.

To see what it's like to be a conductor at Norfolk Southern copy and paste the following link in your browser. http://www.nscorp.com/nscorphtml/vid...or_prehire.wmv

TRAINING: Will consist of sufficient class and field training to enable the freight service trainee to become a qualified Conductor/Trainman. Field experience will include training with yard, local, and through freight crews. Upon successful completion of the training and required written exams, the employee will be a qualified conductor.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applications for employment may be rejected within sixty (60) calendar days after an employee establishes a seniority date. Employees establish a seniority date on the date they first perform compensated service as a Conductor/Trainman following the initial training.

ADVANCEMENT: Presently FTEs are required to accept mandatory promotion to Locomotive Engineer and attend Locomotive Engineer Training (LET). This can occur at any point after one (1) year of train service experience. LET lasts approximately 1 month at the Norfolk Southern Corporate Training Facility in McDonough, Georgia and approximately 5 to 6 months in the field. Total training normally lasts 6 to 7 months.

HOURS: Employees are required to work on-call, on an as needed basis, from an extraboard. Employees are expected to be available to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in all weather conditions. Work schedules are irregular and are determined by the rotation of the extraboard.
Employees must have a telephone in order to be contacted for work. Most employees purchase a cellular phone to be called for work.

Employees in train service are subject to extensive travel requirements for the job and must be able to be away from home on a constant basis, depending upon the needs of the extraboard. Employees normally will have 1-2 hours from the time of call to report to work. Extra board employees can expect to work mostly nights, weekends, and holidays. Employees are not guaranteed a forty-hour work week, but are paid for the time spent performing train service. Mandatory rest periods under the Hours of
Service regulations are required. New hires work from the extra board until they acquire sufficient seniority to be awarded a regularly scheduled position.

UNION MEMBERSHIP: All employees will be required to join either the Train service union or Engineer's union within 60 days of establishing a seniority date. The union requires monthly membership dues of all members, ranging between $50 and $90 a month. Failure to comply with any policies as outlined in the Agreement between the Carrier and the Union may result in termination of employment.

ALCOHOL AND DRUG POLICY: Employees in Train and Engine Service are subject to random alcohol and drug testing as per the Federal Railroad Administration Guidelines. The Norfolk Southern Policy is ZERO TOLERANCE.

RATES of PAY: The information below reflects the rates of pay presently in effect (subject to change):

TRAINING: Trainees start in a training program at the Norfolk Southern corporate training facility at McDonough, GA, 35 miles south of Atlanta on 1-75. NS will pay mileage costs at $0.51 per mile for a round-trip for those driving personal vehicles. Often, new hires from the same location arrange to carpool to McDonough; only the driver is reimbursed for mileage. While in McDonough, NS pays room and board at a local hotel and provides for meal coupons to be used at the local restaurants. McDonough is a mix of classroom and field instruction.

Phase I (McDonough) – 3 weeks; $600/week, pre-tax
Phase II (Division) – 4 – 6 months; $600/week, pre-tax

Phase II is back on the hiring Division. Trainees are coupled with conductors and engineers to learn the duties and safe operations of train service. Supervisory trainmasters will conduct training as well as determine the point at which a trainee can be “marked up” for train service from the extraboard.

ENTRY RATES: After establishing seniority, train and engine service employees are subject to a 5-year rate progression, after which they will receive full rates. The rate progression is as outlined:

1st year 80% of full rate in class of service working
2nd year 80% of full rate in class of service working
3rd year 85% of full rate in class of service working
4th year 90% of full rate in class of service working
5th year 95% of full rate in class of service working

To progress to the next highest level in each step, employees must perform a minimum of eighty (80) tours of duty during the preceding 365 calendar days.

BASIC DAY FULL (100%) HOURLY RATES OF PAY: Conductor (CO) / Engineer (EN)

Yard Service – CO $203.52 / EN $209.60
Through Freight – CO $181.60 / EN $200.88
Local Freight – CO $182.16 / EN $201.44

** First year pay, after training period, will be 80% of these full rates and will progress as detailed above. Rates effective January 1, 2011, and are subject to change July 1, 2011.

BENEFITS: Employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. Medical insurance for the employee, spouse and eligible dependents is provided on the first day of the second month of employment. After one year of employment, employees are eligible for dental insurance to cover the employee, spouse, and eligible dependents, a $20,000 life insurance plan for the employee, and participation in the Norfolk Southern 401 (K) plan. Employees are subject to Railroad Retirement taxes paid at a rate equivalent to Social Security tax plus an additional 5.35%. Employees are also covered by Railroad Retirement sickness and disability benefits, and following completion of the service requirement, employees will be eligible for Railroad Retirement pension benefits.

Vacation: Employees are eligible for paid vacation after one year of service on a covered position, which increases from one week to five weeks after 25 years, provided they work the required amount in the preceding year to qualify.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing. We test hair for illegal drugs as part of our pre-employment medical evaluation. Hair testing can reveal any drug use in the last 90 days. If you are unable to provide a hair sample from the head, arms, chest, or legs we will treat that failure as a refusal which will result in rejection of the application for employment.

This is intended to be an accurate overview of the terms and conditions of employment as well as benefits provided for the positions described above. However, information contained herein does not supersede any Agreements between the Carrier and the unions representing employees in the described positions nor supersede the benefit plan documents which contain more specific information. Rates of pay, benefits, and working conditions are subject to change. In the event of any conflict between the information contained in this summary and these agreements or plan documents, the agreements and plan documents will govern.