Rail Car Repairers: Career Overview
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.
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The Daily Work of Rail Car Repairers Take On?
The core tasks performed by rail car repairers span:
- Record conditions of cars, and repair and maintenance work performed or to be performed.
- Inspect components such as bearings, seals, gaskets, wheels, and coupler assemblies to determine if repairs are needed.
- Repair or replace defective or worn parts such as bearings, pistons, and gears, using hand tools, torque wrenches, power tools, and welding equipment.
- Inspect the interior and exterior of rail cars coming into rail yards to identify defects and to determine the extent of wear and damage.
- Remove locomotives, car mechanical units, or other components, using pneumatic hoists and jacks, pinch bars, hand tools, and cutting torches.
- Test units for operability before and after repairs.
- Adjust repaired or replaced units as needed to ensure proper operation.
- Repair, fabricate, and install steel or wood fittings, using blueprints, shop sketches, and instruction manuals.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective rail car repairers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Rail Car Repairers Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Air Brake Adjuster
- Air Brake Man
- Air Brake Mechanic
- Air Brake Rigger
- Air Brake Worker
- Air Compressor Mechanic
- Air Valve Mechanic
- Air Valve Repairer
Job Outlook
There are about 269,068 rail car repairers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +14.4% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Rail Car Repairers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $49,359 |
| Hourly median | $23.73 |
| 10th percentile | $29,730 |
| 25th percentile | $39,544 |
| 75th percentile | $59,174 |
| 90th percentile | $68,988 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $97,660 |
| Oregon | $85,380 |
| New York | $85,160 |
| Maryland | $84,840 |
| Wisconsin | $84,750 |
| Colorado | $84,420 |
| Minnesota | $79,330 |
| Delaware | $77,240 |
| New Jersey | $76,740 |
| Utah | $75,280 |
| Illinois | $73,480 |
| Indiana | $72,740 |
| Florida | $66,760 |
| California | $66,740 |
| Nebraska | $66,440 |
| South Dakota | $65,780 |
| Arizona | $64,790 |
| Iowa | $63,290 |
| Missouri | $63,100 |
| Tennessee | $62,350 |
| New Mexico | $61,750 |
| Idaho | $61,640 |
| Georgia | $60,050 |
| Oklahoma | $59,070 |
| Washington | $58,870 |
| Michigan | $58,680 |
| Texas | $58,500 |
| South Carolina | $57,760 |
| Kentucky | $57,180 |
| North Carolina | $57,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,790 |
| Nevada | $55,750 |
| Wyoming | $52,720 |
| Arkansas | $52,530 |
| Ohio | $52,160 |
| Kansas | $51,500 |
| Louisiana | $50,250 |
| Alabama | $49,480 |
| West Virginia | $48,180 |
Where Rail Car Repairers Earn the Most
Pay for rail car repairers differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $97,660 | 3.6% | 1.43 |
| Middle Atlantic | $75,651 | 20.6% | 1.33 |
| Rocky Mountains | $70,110 | 3.4% | 2.69 |
| Far Western US | $68,505 | 6.6% | 0.46 |
| Great Lakes | $68,133 | 16.2% | 1.40 |
| Plains States | $65,757 | 10.9% | 2.55 |
| Southwest | $59,087 | 15.2% | 1.23 |
| Southeast | $52,112 | 23.5% | 1.52 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Rail Car Repairers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $90,050 | 660 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $85,380 | 120 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $84,840 | 190 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $77,910 | 560 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $72,660 | 480 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | NC | $68,860 | 60 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | MO | $62,990 | 80 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | KY | $60,740 | 130 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of rail car repairers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 15,650 | $63,100 |
| Manufacturing | 430 | $57,330 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 30 | $79,830 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Internet browser software: Mozilla Firefox (hot technology)
- Compiler and decompiler software: Disassembler software (in demand)
Work Environment
The work environment for rail car repairers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Spend Time Standing
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Education and Training
Typical rail car repairers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (Supplemental)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (Primary-Long)
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Automotive Body and Related Repairers (Primary-Long)
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics (Primary-Short)
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Future rail car repairers commonly pursue programs in:
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 49-3043.00 (Rail Car Repairers).
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