Yes. Class I railroad employees have long been among the highest paid workers across U.S. industries. The 2022 agreements resulted in a historic 24% wage increase over five years (2020-2024). At present, most Class I rail employees earn between $90,000 to $140,000 in annual wages (depending on their craft), with an average of $111,000. Including the value of retirement, sickness, and health care benefits, the average annual compensation is approximately $160,000.

Railroading has presented an opportunity for generations of Americans to turn a job into a lifelong career. The median tenure in the freight rail industry is three times longer than the private sector, with unionized rail employees having a median tenure of more than 13 years. By comparison, the median tenure for private sector workers is 4.1 years according to the U.S. Department of Labor.