Rail car repairers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $67,530 | $32.46 |
| Mean (average) | $70,680 | $33.98 |
| 90th percentile | $95,100 | $45.72 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Rail car repairers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 41 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $58,080 | $37,220 | $77,990 | 280 | 0.96 |
| Arizona | $81,230 | $46,360 | $95,010 | 170 | 0.37 |
| Arkansas | $53,810 | $36,230 | $85,100 | 340 | 1.9 |
| California | $68,370 | $49,910 | $115,840 | 700 | 0.28 |
| Colorado | $86,630 | $59,190 | $112,820 | 250 | 0.63 |
| Delaware | $78,900 | $51,830 | $95,100 | 130 | 1.99 |
| Florida | $62,260 | $40,500 | $66,820 | 410 | 0.3 |
| Georgia | $64,230 | $49,930 | $90,020 | 980 | 1.46 |
| Idaho | $85,420 | $46,120 | $85,420 | 110 | 0.98 |
| Illinois | $84,570 | $49,820 | $96,170 | 1,850 | 2.21 |
| Indiana | $60,490 | $40,880 | $84,890 | 670 | 1.53 |
| Iowa | $60,550 | $46,090 | $84,910 | 340 | 1.61 |
| Kansas | $48,160 | $38,830 | $87,190 | 300 | 1.54 |
| Kentucky | $59,430 | $39,950 | $80,350 | 770 | 2.81 |
| Louisiana | $47,970 | $47,320 | $77,440 | 190 | 0.7 |
| Maine | $60,090 | $42,600 | $94,310 | 70 | 0.74 |
| Maryland | $89,430 | $64,740 | $103,540 | 560 | 1.48 |
| Massachusetts | $108,680 | $81,430 | $119,060 | 770 | 1.54 |
| Michigan | $64,370 | $38,700 | $83,370 | 370 | 0.61 |
| Minnesota | $77,800 | $42,610 | $88,620 | 170 | 0.41 |
| Mississippi | $47,480 | $35,920 | $77,780 | 320 | 2.01 |
| Missouri | $68,290 | $45,020 | $70,980 | 220 | 0.54 |
| Nebraska | Data unavailable | 1,130 | 8.07 | ||
| Nevada | $48,100 | $39,110 | $87,080 | 50 | 0.25 |
| New Jersey | $78,750 | $65,260 | $84,360 | 410 | 0.7 |
| New Mexico | $67,550 | $52,020 | $85,470 | 120 | 0.98 |
| New York | $84,580 | $56,680 | $109,040 | 1,730 | 1.3 |
| North Carolina | $47,880 | $45,120 | $76,870 | 350 | 0.51 |
| Ohio | $53,480 | $49,900 | $64,840 | 690 | 0.91 |
| Oklahoma | $60,540 | $45,650 | $81,180 | 90 | 0.4 |
| Oregon | $87,470 | $52,900 | $90,510 | 230 | 0.85 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,350 | $49,640 | $79,050 | 970 | 1.16 |
| South Dakota | $71,750 | $46,250 | $79,060 | 90 | 1.48 |
| Tennessee | $60,090 | $47,480 | $80,400 | 320 | 0.7 |
| Texas | $59,330 | $46,210 | $79,020 | 2,690 | 1.39 |
| Utah | $83,980 | $48,880 | $103,080 | 100 | 0.41 |
| Virginia | $83,720 | $58,680 | $83,870 | 210 | 0.37 |
| Washington | $63,410 | $49,810 | $80,190 | 180 | 0.37 |
| West Virginia | $50,800 | $45,190 | $59,580 | 100 | 1.06 |
| Wisconsin | $58,870 | $44,490 | $88,010 | 220 | 0.54 |
| Wyoming | $59,040 | $47,180 | $86,970 | 250 | 6.57 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for rail car repairers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.9%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for rail car repairers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Disassembler software (in demand)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Mozilla Firefox (hot technology)
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- RailTech Software Solutions Rail 21 Management System
- RailTech Software Systems Mars for the 21st Century
- WheelShop Automation.com Wheel Shop Management Suite
Transferable skills for career changers: Troubleshooting, Repairing, Equipment Maintenance, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Operation and Control.
Common job titles: Freight Maintenance Specialist, Locomotive Repairman, Rail Car Maintenance Mechanic, Rail Car Mechanic, Rail Car Repairer, Rail Car Repairman, Rail Car Sandblaster, Rail Car Welder, Railroad Car Repairman, Train Car Repairman.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do rail car repairers make?
The national median annual wage for rail car repairers was $67,530 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $46,800 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $95,100. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do rail car repairers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is rail car repairers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of rail car repairers to change +2.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay rail car repairers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Massachusetts ($108,680), Maryland ($89,430), Oregon ($87,470). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.