What Does $73.16/Hour Actually Mean?

When people talk about how much they make “per hour,” they’re usually not just talking about what shows up on their paycheck. Most high dollar-per-hour numbers you hear in other industries include wages plus all fringe benefits: things like health care, retirement, and paid time off. Folks tend to use the number that puts their job in the best possible light. That is just human nature.  

That’s why comparing hourly pay across jobs can get confusing. Without knowing what’s included, it’s hard to tell if you’re really comparing apples to apples. Here is a breakdown of our full compensation in 2024, the most recent year with complete data: 

The $73.16 per hour figure for SMART-TD members under the National Freight Agreement in 2024 is a total compensation number, not just straight-time wages. It includes actual hours worked, paid time off, and the real cost of employer-paid benefits including what the railroad pays into Tier I and Tier II — all rolled into a per-hour-worked figure. 

This is a conservative and fair snapshot of what railroading paid at a Class I railroad in 2024. It doesn’t rely on overtime assumptions or best-case scenarios. It is just complete, verifiable data provided by Roth Labor Bureau Inc. 

This number doesn’t include our increases in 2025. We’ve had two raises since then, along with increased funding for benefits. That means the real value of compensation today is noticeably higher than $73.16. But since 2024 is the last full year where all the data is complete, it’s the right benchmark to use. 

Bottom line: when you hear big hourly numbers thrown around about what guys are making in other industries, they usually include everything. The $73.16 figure does the same, honestly and conservatively, and shows the real value of our work. So when you’re at the bar and hear the longshoremen bragging about the $65/per hour they are going to make in 2030, just know that you were pulling in $73.16 two years ago and have had two raises since.  

On second thought, it’s probably better to not bring that up. Just congratulate them on their “big win” and buy the next round.