Tugboat & Barge Operators vs Railroad Conductors
Median pay is about $30k higher for Railroad Conductors. The usual entry education is high school plus USCG license for Tugboat & Barge Operators and high school for Railroad Conductors.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Tugboat & Barge Operators | Railroad Conductors |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $47,520 | $78,000, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $42,760 | $65,610, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $69,010 | $83,820, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +4.9% Growing fast, higher | +0.9% Stable |
| Openings a year | 300 | 3,000 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | High school plus USCG license | High school |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.8 / 5 | 2.6 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Very low | High |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 47th pct | 59th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Tugboat & Barge Operators
- Active Learning
Only Railroad Conductors
- Writing
Both lean on speaking, monitoring, active listening, critical thinking, reading comprehension.
More comparisons
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.