Railroading is definitely a unique industry and in some cases is treated entirely differently than other businesses in the United States. These are large compa

Railroading is definitely a unique industry and in some cases is treated entirely differently than other businesses in the United States. These are large companies that can't really go anywhere and have a lot of similarities to utilities and their "granted monopoly" status. The job itself is not easy and the locations (as mentioned in a different thread) aren't in the most desirable locations. Typically you're working outside, you have to deal with seniority when getting shifts (which eventually does pay off if you stick with it), and you'll be dealing with the NSTB if anything goes wrong. This is entirely a quality of work/throw cash at it problem. If you can't make the job better ("You'll be on call all week and will have to report within 3 hours notice if we call you at any time of the day to ride around in a port-a-potty in all the weather") then you better pay up. (See also the labor shortage in the trucking industry if you were considering other modes of shipping)