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I have never been able to find any direct information regarding Amtrak's pay scales. However, according to the BLS, persons engaged in support activities for other transportation, including rail, averaged $19.90 per hour before benefits during 2010. Presumably Amtrak's food and beverage personnel fall into this category. According to another source, which appears to be an independent employment agency, Amtrak's train attendants average $19 to $21 per hour before benefits. Lastly, a study prepared by an independent consult for Amtrak in 2007, which addressed the pay scales for Amtrak's shop employees, as opposed to the on-board employees, found that Amtrak's wages for this group were approximately 4 per cent below the national average for comparable positions in private industry.  However, after adding in benefits, i.e. health insurance, paid vacations, retirement, etc., Amtrak's compensation package for this group was approximately 19 per cent above the comparable compensation package for employees in similar private industry positions. Several years ago, when the Sunset Limited was having several schedule problems, a story in the San Antonio Express-News, if I remember correctly, noted that some of Amtrak's sleeping car attendants, due to overtime, were earning as much as $75,000 per year before benefits.  Having watched on more than one occasion their making up a roomette bed, they earn every bit of it, at least if back pain is any indicator of value added.   Most of the Amtrak employees that I have encountered this year, as well in previous years, have done a good job.  Several of them, in fact, were so good that I sent a letter to Mr. Boardman bringing them to his attention. The problem lies in a business model that is broken, i.e. long distance trains with diners, lounges, and sleeping cars. It is not the fault of the employees; it is the fault of the management, who are responding to political pressures and union pressures, to pay what may be above average compensation for the jobs performed.
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