The typical conductor earned $70,766 last year, and the highest-paid conductor made $133,179.
And SEPTA's crews make less than many of their counterparts on other commuter lines, as SEPTA's hourly wages are among the lowest in the northeastern United States: $27.55 an hour for its most-senior engineers, $25.22 an hour for most-senior conductors, and $21.22 for top-paid assistant conductors.
The costs for SEPTA and other rail operators may soon rise considerably, as a proposed change in federal law would reduce the consecutive hours that railroaders are permitted to work. That could force transit agencies and railroads to hire more engineers and conductors, reducing overtime but driving up costs for training and benefits.
SEPTA might need to hire 75 to 100 more employees, costing it $15 million to $30 million, said Jeanne Neese, SEPTA legislative counsel.
The change in federal law has been approved by the House and the Senate, but the two houses still must reconcile the differences in their bills. Commuter railroads would get a three-year reprieve from the new rules under the Senate version.
The big paychecks and long hours of railroad workers are tied directly to the unusual nature of their jobs. And the costs are boosted by a long history of employee benefits that are more lucrative - and more expensive - for railroad workers than most other workers.
"It appears there is a lot of money being thrown at us, but we actually earn that money," said Tom Dorricott, an engineer on the R3 Media/Elwyn line who is also a union representative for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. "You don't become an engineer unless you want to make money, because of the stressful hours. You have to work long and odd hours."
