For people in our industry? I don't see many options that are not just like Union Pacific, which scares me, to be honest. That's the only reason I'm still here.
If I can find something better (I'm not even talking about salary - I'd settle for lower pay with better working conditions,) I'll be out of here in a flash.
Skills obtained working for the railroad generally don't transfer. This is especially true of field employees, who seemed to spend a lot of time doing special paperwork to protect the railroad from litigation.
If you are a craft employee, you will probably not see a salary similar to what you currently make, because there probably won't be a union to create the kinds of distortions in the workforce that must be present for a construction foreman with no college background to make $100,000/year. If you have a higher demand skill (welder, machinist, etc.), you may have an easier time finding a good job than those with college degrees, because there is a major shortage of skilled trades in the current job market.
If you are non-agreement and college-educated, you may have more options, depending on your location and the transferability of your skills. You're going to have to sell corporate recruiters on the value and transferability of your railroad experience.
Look at Class 2s.
I mean you're not wrong. All class ones are basically becoming the same. But how far along are you in your career? There's more to life than the railroad. Time to expand your horizons.
No collusion!!!!!!