| Employment opportunities in the transportation industry | | | | move up to better jobs with higher salaries on board |
| haven't disappeared despite the tough world economy. | | | | the train. |
| If you have overlooked railroad industry jobs, then it's | | | | It's important to remember that because of the nature |
| time to circle back for a serious look. While some | | | | of the transportation industry, not every occupation |
| occupations require specialized training and experience | | | | has a set schedule of hours that are worked. Some |
| skills, many of the jobs are available for those just | | | | days may require workers to be on the train for only a |
| starting out in the industry. With many workers in the | | | | few hours while longer routes will require workers to |
| industry preparing for retirement, the way is wide open | | | | be on the train much longer - even overnight. As with |
| for new workers to step in and fill those positions. The | | | | all other occupations, seniority and union decisions |
| railroad industry is experiencing a resurgence in | | | | dictate who gets the better shifts. It also only makes |
| popularity as manufacturers and shippers start to see | | | | sense that workers aboard passenger trains will have |
| the value of transporting their cargo and materials | | | | a better work environment than those working freight |
| across the country by more economical means than | | | | trains. Passenger trains usually have more reliable |
| transport trucks. This means that the railway | | | | schedules of work as they follow set routes between |
| companies are looking for more workers to staff their | | | | points. |
| trains and rail yards while they try to keep up with | | | | Many employees who started out in entry-level |
| renewed business demand for their services. | | | | positions quickly work their way up to other positions |
| Railway Careers from the Ground Up | | | | such as brake operators and signal workers which |
| Every train needs a certain number of trained | | | | have a better salary scale than the labor positions of |
| personnel to operate properly. While some of these | | | | baggage handlers and dining car stewards. Brake and |
| positions require a lot of experience and specialized | | | | signal operators can expect to earn up to $23.49 an |
| training (such as locomotive engineers and train | | | | hour depending on the company and location of the |
| conductors) other occupations are filled by workers | | | | work. Most workers in other areas of the |
| just starting out in the industry. Labor positions such as | | | | transportation industry only earn up to $12.40 an hour |
| baggage handlers and dining car stewards require few | | | | which makes even the lowest labor position salary |
| specialized skills and still offer excellent salaries when | | | | onboard a train, attractive to workers starting out in the |
| compared to the same work performed elsewhere. | | | | industry. With classroom and on-the-job training, many |
| Baggage handlers usually earn in the range of $19.75 | | | | labor workers can advance to other occupations |
| an hour, depending on the company they work for and | | | | within the rail industry such as train conductor or even |
| the location of the work. Some bonuses are paid out | | | | locomotive engineer. Engineer positions require a |
| for longer train routes. Dining car stewards can earn | | | | thorough knowledge of every aspect of a train's |
| from $26,500 to $28,450 annually and dining car | | | | operation and the way the railway industry functions. |
| supervisors can expect to earn $31,100 to $46,350 | | | | Training for other positions is sometimes provided by |
| annually. By starting out in these entry-level positions, | | | | the railway companies with a job usually guaranteed |
| railroad industry employees can quickly get to know a | | | | upon graduation. Many schools offer specialized |
| lot about the specifics of operating a train. This | | | | training for all occupations within the railway industry |
| knowledge can then be turned to learning the specifics | | | | with both classroom and apprentice training being |
| of other positions on board a train to help the worker | | | | offered. |