Comments on: Accepted Job With Union Pacific Railroad Train Crew In Chicago Wanted To Know Realistic Pay For First Year?

By: Southern Lady

Southern Lady — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:39:21 +0000

As a conductor/switchman you should make anywhere from $40-50+k annually. It depends on the amount of time you work. Twelve hours a day is great but for how many days per week? The more you work the more money you make. But the more you work the less time you have for family, education, etc. Online may be your only choice for expanding your education. You will be tired after working 12 hours a day. Be realistic. Good luck.

By: Rango

Rango — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:33:49 +0000

if you work all year (and you almost certainly will) you will make a minumum of $50,000 plus overtime and more if you are on a road assignemnt.

By: Samurai Hoghead

Samurai Hoghead — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:31:09 +0000

There are many variables to be considered when trying to compute pay, some of which include;
When I left the service 7 years ago, a new hire would be paid at 75% of full scale the first year, then increasing 5% each year for five years, at which time you’ll be making full scale. This may have changed, but I would be inclined to doubt it;
Overall earnings will depend on where a person hires out, owing to the traffic demands of the home terminal. Some terminals, such as mine in Dunsmuir, California, are now a small yard crew change point. Here, there is a freight pool to Klamath Falls, Oregon, a run of 106 miles and a frieght pool to Stockton, California, around 295 miles. Employees are paid by the mile. So if your terminal runs in four directions (which I would guess would be the case if working out of Chicago) of considerable mileage, the potential for higher earnings exist.
The best way to sum up future earnings is thus: Most people are Democrats when they hire out and they’re Republicans by the time they retire…
Good luck and stay safe…