Key highlights of these pattern agreements include:  

• Wage increases of 18.8% over five years. Based on current inflation projections, this increase will translate to real wage growth for covered railroaders and pay certainty for the life of the contract.  

• Enhancements to world-class health and welfare benefits with no increase to the employee contribution rate. In 2025, health care premiums will decrease to about $277/month, well below the national average of more than $500/month for employer-provided family coverage.  

• Access to more paid vacation time for employees earlier in their careers. 

Yes. Class I railroad employees have long been among the highest-paid workers across U.S. industries.

The 2022 national agreements resulted in a historic 24% wage increase over five years (2020–2024). Today, most Class I rail employees earn between $90,000 to $140,000 in annual wages (depending on their craft), with an average annual wage of $111,000. Including the value of retirement, sickness and health care benefits, the average annual compensation is approximately $160,000.

Building on this foundation, the 2025 pattern agreements provide an additional 18.8% wage increase through 2029. Taken together with the 2022 agreements, these increases represent a nearly 50% compounded wage gain for covered employees between 2020 and 2029. Under the terms of the 2025 pattern agreements, average annual wages are projected to rise to about $135,000 by the end of 2029 – and the average value of total compensation packages would increase to about $190,000.