by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Railroad & Railway Transportation involves the study of Railroad And Railway Transportation. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To The Operation Of Railroads And Other Aspects Of The Railway Industry, Including Railroad And Railyard Service. Includes Instruction In Railway Culture, Operating Skills, General Code Of Operation Rules, Conductor Service, Signal Systems, Switching, Transportation Of Hazardous Materials, Safety, And Railway Telecommunications Systems. Examples: [Railway Operations], [Railroad Conductor], [Locomotive Engineer], [Brakeman/brakewoman], [Railway Dispatcher], [Yardmaster], [Railroad Maintenance Of Way Welding]. Continue reading for the key facts every railroad & railway transportation student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering railroad & railway transportation programs.
Nationwide, railroad & railway transportation is a widely-pursued major, with 78 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Railroad & Railway Transportation Schools ranking analyzes these 1 schools to determine the best overall colleges for railroad & railway transportation students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of railroad & railway transportation programs later in this article.
Programs in Railroad & Railway Transportation emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations railroad & railway transportation graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a railroad & railway transportation program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a railroad & railway transportation major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several railroad & railway transportation degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 74 |
People currently working in careers related to railroad & railway transportation tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 79.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 9.8% |
| Some college courses | 4.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 2.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in railroad & railway transportation careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying railroad & railway transportation opens doors to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to railroad & railway transportation.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to railroad & railway transportation.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers | 1,518,529 | 10.4% |
| Rail Transportation Workers, All Other | 1,424,783 | 5.9% |
| Subway and Streetcar Operators | 1,309,856 | -4.4% |
| Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | 1,270,833 | 3.3% |
| Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | 631,957 | 8.0% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators | 454,228 | 10.4% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation Workers, All Other | 163,209 | 11.6% |
| Locomotive Engineers | 86,481 | -3.4% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of railroad & railway transportation graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,832 |
| 4 years | $42,430 |
| 5 years | $45,687 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for railroad & railway transportation graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers railroad & railway transportation grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators | $66,225 |
| Locomotive Engineers | $61,391 |
| Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | $61,311 |
| Rail Transportation Workers, All Other | $58,561 |
| Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers | $48,096 |
| Subway and Streetcar Operators | $42,817 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation Workers, All Other | $31,010 |
| Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | $27,598 |
With 1 different railroad & railway transportation programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased railroad & railway transportation school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in railroad & railway transportation, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Truck and Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator and Instructor | 21,399 |
| Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | 1,131 |
| Forklift Operation/Operator | 197 |
| Ground Transportation, Other | 163 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
