Inaugural jobs report shows how industry careers deliver for America’s railroaders 

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today released the “Rail Jobs Report: The Value and Opportunities in Railroading,” which provides a comprehensive review of the benefits and opportunities that come with freight rail careers. Featuring various employee testimonials, the report spotlights railroaders throughout the industry with stories of advancement, family legacy and career impact.

“Railroaders are the lifeblood that powers our industry and supports every facet of the economy,” said AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies. “Rail work is not only a source of pride; it is a pathway to stability, growth and opportunity that often spans generations. Combining data and employee testimonials, this report demonstrates the value of a railroading job – and the reasons why so many railroaders turn these jobs into careers.”

The jobs report features statistics that distinguish freight rail jobs from those across other industries, highlighting railroading’s strong wages, world-class benefits and hundreds of career paths and advancement opportunities:

• The median tenure of railroad employees is 13 years (compared to 3.9 years for other private sector workers).  

• The average Class I railroad employee’s annual pay and benefit package is valued from $135,000 to almost $190,000. 

• Effective Jan. 1, 2025, unionized freight rail employees’ monthly health care premiums will decrease by more than 10%, from $309.21 to $277.54 (compared to the national average monthly premium of more than $500 for employer-provided family coverage).

• Career railroaders (those 60+ who have served at least 30 years) receive more than two times as much retirement income as the average Social Security recipient.

• Veterans account for about 1 in 6 rail employees.